Most pets know their home territory and will not usually get lost by wandering off, although it happens often. The most likely time for your pet to be lost is when he or she is away from home. Vacations seem harmless enough and few would consider that the are putting their beloved animal friend in jeopardy by bringing them along, however 90 percent of lost animals become removed from their owners away from home. This also includes moving and this first month or two at a new home.

1. Buy a small harness snap, a small bell and a luggage label.
2. Hook the bell to the snap. Put the luggage label on your animal's collar.
3. Put your name and phone numbers on the label. Make a letter with non-water based ink stating that you will be responsible for any reasonable veterinary bills for your pet if he or she is lost and gets injured or you have an auto accident. Describe your pet and give your phone number and address. Sign the letter and date it. Fold it up and put it in the luggage label. Should you be involved in an accident, your animal will hopefully be cared for.
4. When you stop for the night, put your motel number on the tag, etc.
5. When you stop your car, snap the bell on to the collar before you let your friend out. This may look stupid but that is the point, If your animal gets separated from you, he or she will be very noticeable. People can't help but notice an animal with a bell and a luggage label. If your pet does get lost, when you make a sign, if you say your dog or cat has a bell on, that will make your animal stand out. Also, the sound of a bell will carry for almost a mile at night and it may help you locate an animal in remote areas. Be certain that this does not cause the collar to come off. We suggest that you tighten the collar up a little when traveling. You can leave the bell on but it will probably drive you nuts. Another option is to put the bell on the leash and always put the leash on when stopping. This has a added advantage that the dragging leash is easy to step on and catch.
   Make Certain that your pet has had the bell on before and is not afraid of it. I have seen a dog run until he dropped from exhaustion because I put a calves bell on him and he was afraid of it. Train your pet on this, in a confined area, for a few weeks prior to leaving.
6. Use a leash when ever possible, city dogs may find a rabbit or deer irresistible to chase and become disoriented. Do not let a dog loose near livestock! A small poodle can run a calf into a fence and kill it, leaving you liable for up to 3 times the value of the calf. In most states a dog can be legally shot for simply worrying livestock. Use a leash!
7. When tying a dog to a car, tie to the drivers door handle or hang a seat belt out the bottom of the drivers door and tie to it. A third option is to attach a large object (milk jug) to the handle end of the leash and shut the drivers door on the leash. Never tie to the back or front of a car. Never leave your pet in a car if the temperature is over 75 degrees.
8. Many animals are afraid of loud noises. At home they may hide in under a bed or in a garage or dog house. When away from home or at a new house, these pets, dogs in particular, may make a run for home. They don't know that it is a thousand miles, they are just scared and they may bolt. If a thunder storm is eminent or fireworks planned. It is important that you tie this type up, or put them in you car or new house.

Most dogs are trained to come to their master. This is wonderful, but can at times be very dangerous. Many dogs will, in time of confusion or excitement, run to you. I have seen too many times, a dog on one side of a road, run to it's master on the other side, only to be killed or injured by traffic. The skill neither the dog or owner possessed in these cases is the command "Down." Most good stock dogs are taught this command as a pretext to any training. A dog with "A good down" will fall to a laying position from a dead run at the command of "down." The command replaces "lay down" as a command and is not hard to teach. With a little work, your dog should go down at all times upon this call. Once you have this skill, you can make you dog become immobile at any time and avoid the unfortunate situation I just described. Talk to your local dog training schools and insist that this be included in you dog's training program.

Before going on a vacation or move, read How to find lost Pets as it contains some good information that may not be available to you on the road.