Pet Safety in Winter Storms

Written by Sybile Moser. Photo is of Volunteer & Foster Coordinator, Lauren, and Digiorno who was recently adopted.

What a winter! Pet Network has been pawsitively buried along with our neighbors! While the fresh powder is a welcome sight, pets may be at a higher risk of becoming lost and disoriented in the new landscape. The staff here at Pet Network have a few tips on how to mitigate risks and what to do if your pet becomes lost.

Let’s start with the basics: lots of snow means buried fences, unfamiliar surroundings, and a greater chance of escape. 

Try to make a habit of keeping your pets on leash. Even if your pet has great recall, heavy snow can impact their ability to hear you. Long training leashes are a great way to keep your pet close during stormy weather.

Keep your pet in familiar areas. Snowy surroundings can be confusing for your pet, and may impact their ability to locate home base. Keeping your pet in areas known to them can help!

Microchips and collars…we know you know! Identifying information on your pet is the single best way shelters and community members have of getting your pet home safely. Make sure your address and phone number are up to date on your pet’s tags and in their microchip registry. Pet Network provides microchipping services through Pet Network Community Hospital and FREE tag engraving on Tuesday afternoons!

So, what do you do if you’ve found a lost pet?

Take note of the time, place, and context in which you came into contact with the animal. If you are able to safely capture the lost pet there are several options for contacting the owner!

1. Utilize Pet Station’s self-serve microchip scanning station. These stations are a fantastic resource for reuniting lost pets with their families in our community. 
2. Post to Facebook! We know, it sounds silly, but Facebook is the best way to get the word out about a found pet with our community. These pages are a great place to start: Pet Network Humane Society, Incline Village, and Lost Pets of Northern Nevada.
3. Still stumped? Give us a call! Pet Network is happy to provide additional guidance on strays and lost pets: 775.832.4404