'Get 'em Home!' campaign aids lost dogs
SANDERS COUNTY - Every dog in Sanders County should have a collar and ID tag to help him get home if he becomes lost.
That’s the premise behind the “Get ‘em Home!” project recently launched by the Sanders County Dog Training Club (SCDTC). The program’s goal is to educate dog owners about the importance of collars and ID tags, and to provide free collars and ID tags for those who have difficulty obtaining them.
“If your dog become separated from you, he can’t tell strangers where he lives or what his name is,” said program coordinator Jan Manning. “It could be days or weeks before your dog is returned to you - if he’s returned at all. But dogs with collars and ID tags can immediately ‘tell’ someone where they live and how to get them home.”
Even small house dogs and dogs kept in fenced yards have been know to “escape,” Manning points out. Dogs may also jump out of parked vehicles and be lured away by wildlife, other dogs, or children playing.
The “Get ‘em Home!” program’s educational material and applications will be distributed to veterinary clinics, schools and animal rescue organizations that can help spread the word to dog owners. The “Get ‘em Home!” brochure includes guidance on how to safely choose a collar and size it to each dog.
“Tags should only be attached to certain types of collars,” Manning explained.
She said tags should never be attached to training collars like choke chains because of the risk of dogs getting collars caught on something and strangling.
“These types of collars are for training only and shouldn’t be left on dogs who are unsupervised,” Manning said.
Nor should they ever be used to tether a dog anywhere, she added, also because of the risk of accidental strangulation.
The collars approved for the club’s ID tag program are flat or rolled buckle collars made of fabric, leather, neoprene or vinyl, with a ring for attaching the ID tag.
Dog owners who are unable to purchase collars and tags for any reason may contact the Sanders County Dog Training Club and fill out an application. The club will supply a collar (new or gently used) and an embossed metal military-style dog tag with the dog’s “Get ‘em Home!” information.
The club will also accept donations, in the form of gently used buckle collars or cash, which will be used to purchase tags.
For more information, contact Jan Manning at 827-6385, or email: sandersagility@gmail.com.