ePole Allows those who lose a pet – as well as those who find a missing pet – post the pet’s vital information and get in contact with others, 24 hours a day

HELP KEEP PETS SAFE THIS SUMMER WITH THESE TIPS

FROM MICHIGAN HUMANE SOCIETY

MHS’ online ePole can help lost pets find their way home

 Independence Day is just around the corner, and that means more and more families across metro Detroit and the rest of the country, will be enjoying the spectacle of fireworks. But these pyrotechnics can be very frightening for our four-legged friends, who are able to do some pretty remarkable and potentially dangerous things in an effort to escape the loud noises and bright lights. The Michigan Humane Society (MHS) is reminding pet owners to keep their pets safe by ensuring they are well-secured, have up-to-date identification and license tags, and are microchipped.

Of the more than 10,000 stray pets arriving at MHS each year, only a fraction – about 10% -– have any form of identification. Without ID, the chance that these pets will be reunited with their families is small. MHS strongly recommends that pets have both visible ID tags and a microchip.

Microchipping is a safe, permanent and unalterable way for your pet to be identified at veterinary centers and animal shelters around the country. MHS offers microchipping for dogs and cats for approximately $50, by appointment at each of the organization’s three veterinary centers in Detroit (313-872-0004), Rochester Hills (248-852-7424) and Westland (734-721-4195). MHS even also includes no-cost microchipping with all its cat and kitten adoptions.

For those pets who do go missing, MHS offers an online tool called the ePole, which acts as a virtual telephone pole for public use, allowing those who lose a pet – as well as those who find a missing pet – to post the pet’s vital information and get in contact with others, 24 hours a day. The service is free to use, providing residents with a means to upload photos of the missing pet, post descriptions of the animal, and share the location where the animal was last seen or found. The ePole can be found online at www.michiganhumane.org/lost.

MHS also recommends the following tips to keep pets safe during Independence Day festivities:

• Keep pets inside and secure. Frightened animals may jump tall fences, bolt out gates or run through screens during fireworks displays in order to “escape.”

• If you know your pet is afraid of loud noises, confine him in a safe, quiet room with their favorite toy and comfortable bedding.

• The holiday is often accompanied by hot weather.  Prevent heat exhaustion by keeping pets inside in a cool area during the heat of the day, with plenty of fresh, cool water.

For more information about pet safety, please visit www.michiganhumane.org.

The Michigan Humane Society is the largest and oldest animal welfare organization in the state. MHS works to end companion animal homelessness, provide the highest quality service and compassion to the animals entrusted to our care, and to be a leader in promoting humane values.