Grooming Tips for Cats

February 20, 2024March 5, 2024

Any cat owner will tell you that their pet spends a significant amount of time grooming themselves. Even so, helping…
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Kids & Dogs: Skills to Teach your Dog when Around Children

February 9, 2024March 5, 2024

There’s nothing sweeter than a child and a dog who are best friends. But as magical as that relationship may…
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Tips for Keeping your Pet Safe in an Emergency

January 18, 2024March 5, 2024

Emergencies come in many forms: fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, violent storms, and more. In the event of extreme weather…
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Pests that can Harm Your Pet

January 16, 2024March 14, 2024

Opening your home and your heart to a pet—be it a cat, dog, or an animal more exotic—constitutes taking on…
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Pet Proofing During the Holidays

December 21, 2023March 5, 2024

‘Tis the season for fancy holiday menus, festive decorations, and perfectly wrapped gifts. The magic of the season can be…
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A Quick and Easy Recipe for Pumpkin Peanut Butter Treats

December 12, 2023March 5, 2024

Pumpkin peanut butter dog treats are the perfect way to give your pup a little extra love! Made with real…
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3 Simple Homemade Cat Treat Recipes

November 22, 2023March 5, 2024

Cats and dogs couldn’t be more different but one thing is for certain—cats love treats just as much as dogs!…
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A Cat’s Whiskers: How Do they Work?

November 16, 2023March 5, 2024

Like most species, cats use their eyes, ears, and nose to assess the world around them. However, cats also have…
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Natural Products for Cleaning Up Pet Messes and Stains

DIY Solutions for Cleaning Up Pet Messes and Stains

November 16, 2023March 5, 2024

Pets are part of the family, which means they’ll hang out when you’re having fun, but sometimes make a mess…
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It’s that gut wrenching feeling that no pet owner ever wants to feel. You call your pet’s name and they don't come. Instead, you find an empty bed, a slipped collar, or an open door. Your pet could be anywhere, but the one thing you know is they are not where they belong—home with you. The important thing is not to panic. Take a deep breath and start going through the steps below. If you’re calm, methodical, and thorough, you’ll be reunited with your pet in no time! Immediately Upon Noticing Your Pet Is Lost Before your pet has time to roam too far, begin searching the area where they were last seen. A study conducted by the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) found that 49% of pet parents who lost their pet found them by searching their neighborhood. Gather your friends to help search, and ask neighbors if they have seen your pet. Keep your pet’s favorite treat or toy on hand during the search, and call out their name along with words they respond to. It’s also a good idea to bring a leash and a blanket with you; that way, when you find them, you have some tools to catch them. If your pet is microchipped and registered with a database, alert the organization maintaining the database that your pet has gone missing. This ensures that if someone finds your pet before you do and scans their microchip, they will know your pet is not where they belong. For this reason, it’s also important to make sure your pet's microchip information is up to date, including your current address and contact information. Another crucial step to reuniting with your pet is to pay attention to your phone! If your pet still has their collar and tag on, or if someone finds your information by scanning their chip, they likely will be giving you a call. Keep your phone’s ringer on full volume so you don’t accidentally miss a call. Alternatively, if the phone number is a landline, make sure a member of your search party stays at your home to answer in case someone calls. Within a Few Hours If you search the immediate area and come up empty handed, it’s time to spread the word. Businesses & Emergency Personnel - Call any local veterinarians, groomers, or shelters to tell them that your pet is missing. You can also alert your local police and fire departments via their non-emergency lines. When making these phone calls, provide your contact information and an accurate description of your pet: name, temperament, breed, coat length and color (don’t forget special markings), size, and age. Social Media & Local Groups - Thankfully, social media has made it easier to spread the word about a missing pet. Publicly share a recent photo of them, along with your contact information to your social media accounts and local “lost pet” groups. This way, any information you provide can be shared across multiple platforms by multiple people. The most common platforms to use are Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. In the Following Days If your pet is still not home within a day or two, it’s time to kick the search up a notch. Visit local shelters and humane societies in person to see if your pet is there. Also, continuously call for updates. Remember, at some places, staffing can vary day-to-day, and not everyone working at a facility may know that your pet is missing. Continue to repost on social media often and update your posts so they do not get buried in group feeds! Additionally, try different groups a bit further out of your search area, and try new platforms like the NextDoor app or Ring Doorbell Neighbors page. “Old school” posters are another great route to take. We may live in the digital age, but never underestimate the power of ink. Print out posters with your pet’s name, photo, and your contact information; post them on telephone poles, street signs, and even inside local businesses or community centers in your area to get some traction. After your Pet is Found When your pet is ultimately returned it’s definitely cause for celebration! But once they are safe and sound, be sure to also do the following: Get them checked out. No matter how long your pet has been missing, they may have gotten small cuts and scrapes, or they could have picked up some unwanted hitchhikers. Take them to your veterinarian for an exam to get any treatment or preventatives that they might need. Take down any social media posts or physical posters you hung to assist in your efforts. Also contact any organizations who you originally alerted to your pets escape and let them know they are no longer lost. Have patience and don’t be angry with your pet. Even if your pet was well-trained before they went missing, accidents happen. In the days following, don’t be upset if they’ve forgotten commands or even have accidents in the house. Instead you may just need to brush up on their training. Your Pets are our Priority! At the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC), our number one priority is to promote the health and wellbeing of your pets. That is why we created the NASC Audit Program and the Quality Seal, which helps you identify animal health and nutritional supplements that come from responsible suppliers committed to producing the highest quality, most consistent products available. Visit our website to learn more and to see a list of NASC members that have earned the Quality Seal.

Steps to Take If Your Pet Goes Missing

October 26, 2023March 5, 2024

It’s that gut wrenching feeling that no pet owner ever wants to feel. You call your pet’s name and they…
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