We've dug into our statistics to reveal why National Lost Pet Prevention Month is important for pet parents.

The spike in pet disappearances during the summer is a shocking trend that needs to stop. So, we've put together this complete guide to help pet parents keep their furry friends safe this summer.

We'll explore the stats and the reasons behind them before offering our expert advice on keeping your pet safe and detailing our four-step plan to find a lost pet.

22,664 pets were reported missing in the summer

Whereas 15,051 were reported missing in the winter

That means there's a more than 50% spike in lost pets during the summer

June 2023 was the month with the highest number of missing pets at 8435

February 2023 was the month with the lowest number of missing pets at 4273

A disrupted routine can lead to stress, causing your pet to run away

Pet sitters may let dogs off the lead or let cats out of the house if they aren't fully aware of the rules

When pets are moved to a different environment, they may try to return to their original environment by running away

Fireworks: The loud bangs and flashes of fireworks can be enough to trigger your pet's fight-or-flight instinct. They are a known cause of dogs and cats running far away from home, getting disoriented, and getting lost.

Visitors: Having a stream of visitors coming and going can be distressing for your furry friend. They see your home as their territory to keep safe and protected. This is made difficult when strangers are entering it. They may decide to seek a safer territory outside of the home.

Parties: Celebrations often involve loud music and busy homes, which is the perfect recipe for a scared pet. Similarly to the impact of visitors, parties can often be enough to cause your pet to run away from home to seek a calmer environment.

Traveling too far away from home and becoming lost

Getting chased by predators

Being involved in traffic accidents

Being stolen

Ask a family member or friend: The better your pet knows the sitter, the safer they'll feel. A close friend or family member is also more likely to know exactly how to care for your furry friend!

Keep them at home: Opt for pet sitting rather than boarding houses. Encourage pet sitters to stay at your home rather than send your pet to theirs. Keeping your furry friend in their own territory will help keep them calm and their routines steady.

Go away for shorter periods of time: Vacationing for a couple of days at a time will be much more manageable for your pet than weeks on end.

Plug-in relaxers: Replicating your kitty's chilled-out hormones can be extremely effective for keeping your furry friend relaxed. A plug-in like Feliway should be used for a few days before you leave or have visitors over so your kitty can adjust!

Keep them company: If your pet is left alone when they are already scared, it's only going to increase their fear. Keeping them company, stroking them, and spending time with them can alleviate some of the anxiety.

Create a safe space: Dedicating a specific room to your pet and filling it with their favorite things, can help them feel secure. Make sure you choose a room with plenty of hiding places!

Get them microchipped: A microchip that sits just beneath your pet's skin guarantees that they are always accounted for. This simple procedure means your furry friend will have your contact details on them at all times, meaning if they do go missing, you'll likely be contacted as soon as they are found. It can also prevent your pet from being mistaken for a stray and being put up for adoption or, in some cases, even euthanized.

Train them: A well-trained pet is less likely to go missing. For dogs, recall training can stop them from running away and can help them find their way back to you. For cats, training them to come back home for dinner time can prevent them from wandering too far away.

Make them wear an ID tag: Clear ID tags clearly indicate to the public that your furry friend is a pet. If someone finds them wandering far from home, they can contact you with information. This will increase your chances of getting your pet home as soon as possible.

Animal control: Official animal control departments will have plenty of resources and expert advice to help you with your search. They'll also be receiving reports of sightings, so it's essential they know about your pet.

Animal shelters: If a member of the public finds a stray animal or lost pet, their usual instinct will be to take them to an animal shelter. By ensuring local animal shelters are aware of your lost pet, you can rest assured knowing they'll contact you if they find them.

Veterinarians: Many lost pets end up in the safe hands of a local vet. Often, people will take a found pet to a vet to get them the care they need, before handing them in to a shelter. Try to report your pet missing to as many local vets as possible!

Send you a printable poster: We've designed a lost pet poster that uses a unique QR code, instead of publishing your private contact details to the public. This means you won't need to worry about prank calls and scams. This poster is free to download and print, and when passers-by scan the code, they'll be taken to the listing of your missing pet on our website.

Offer constant support and guidance: Our team of animal lovers will be with you every step of the way. We'll send you updates on your search, along with our expert search tips, and you'll have access to plenty of helpful articles on finding lost pets.

List your missing pet on our website: We'll create a listing of your pet on our website, which means if someone does find them and searches for them on Google, your pet's page on our site should come up. From there, they can report a sighting, and we'll notify you instantly.

Search at dawn and dusk: Most lost pets will be active during dawn and dusk rather than the daytime. This is because it is generally quieter, so they'll feel safer and are naturally more active during these hours. Remember, use a flashlight to see reflective eyes.

Bring strong-smelling items: Cats and dogs have a fantastic sense of smell. This means they can pinpoint exact locations from far away by picking up on certain scents. Use this to your advantage and take food, treats, blankets, and toys that smell like home!

Get help: Recruiting more people to help search will increase your chances of finding your pet. You'll be able to cover a wider search area, search for longer, and have the chance to take a well-needed rest.

Leaving strong-smelling food outside

Opening up doors and windows

Leaving toys and blankets outside

Leaving a litter box outside