Preventing Lost Pets Goes High-Tech at 2014 Richmond Pet Expo

RICHMOND, Va. - April 22, 2014 - PRLog -- This year’s Richmond Pet Expo is expected to attract nearly 10,000 pet lovers (and their closest pet pals) - and even though this annual event might be dubbed “The Ultimate Pet Party,” pet expo organizers know that pet safety is much more than just fun and games.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) reports that more than three million dogs and cats were euthanized in shelters last year. While most pet-loving Americans are shocked by these types of statistics, it would be especially heartbreaking if a family pet were needlessly euthanized only because an animal control or shelter couldn’t identify a pet’s owners.

When a pet becomes lost or stolen, one tip that most pet industry experts agree on is that pets should be microchipped and wear ID collars with easy-to-read contact information.

“We suggest that the tag should have the cell phone number of the pet parent, the cell number of an emergency contact, the landline of the pet parent, and if the person is comfortable doing so, the street address of their home,” says Dr. Emily Weiss,  the ASPCA’s Vice-President of Shelter Research and Development.

Here are some easy tech-friendly tips to help ensure that your pet doesn’t become a statistic:

Microchips are mandatory. Did you know that only five-percent of the 130 million household pets in the US are microchipped? About the size of a grain of rice, a microchip contains a personal ID number that stays with your companion animal forever. And unlike a collar or ID tags, a microchip can’t break, fall off or be easily removed. Every chip comes imprinted with a digital bar code that can be scanned by shelters, veterinary professionals and rescues to reveal complete information about a pet’s owner. Any shelter, rescue or vet can microchip your pet, which is a safe and easy pain-free procedure that takes about 30 seconds to complete. Microchipping and registration costs vary depending on the microchip company. Discount microchipping will be available at the Richmond Pet Expo.


Missing pet posters are important, but there are better ways to get the word out. It may sound harsh, but with the growth of mobile media and ‘app-culture’ a missing pet poster may not be the best route to finding Fido. Instead, try a new app like Positive Identification of Pet (PiP). This app uses digital facial recognition technology to help pet owners find lost pets. If your pet goes missing, you can activate an alert which goes to animal shelters and clinics within a 15-mile radius of the pet’s last known location. Pip is a free app, $18.00 annual service fee.

Activate a PetAmberAlert. Everyone knows how an Amber Alert works for kids: When a child is missing, an Amber Alert is issued and the surrounding area, even the nation, goes to work to locate the child and return them safely home to their loved ones. PetAmberAlert.com uses the same advanced technology to help spread the word rapidly about a lost pet. When a pet is missing, pet owners can activate a PetAmberAlert, which sends out information (including photos and details) about lost pets to a database of thousands of neighbors, animal shelters, veterinarians, hospitals and pet supply stores within a 100-mile radius of where the pet was last seen. Visit PetAmberAlert.com for more information.

Consider a pet tracking collar. Advanced GPS and wireless technologies have come to the rescue with options for pet owners! A lightweight pet tracking device attaches to your dog's existing collar and is designed to be worn at all times. This device turns your pet’s existing collar into a GPS device which allows you to immediately locate your pet’s exact physical location online or via an app on your phone. A pet owner can even set up the device so that they’re notified by text, email and phone call if their pet has left a designated area. Two popular pet tracking devices are Tagg: The Pet Tracker ($99.95, plus a $7.95 monthly service fee) and the Garmin GTU 10 ($199.99, includes 12 months free service fee).

Use social media to your advantage: Connect with your local and regional animal shelters, rescues and vets via social media accounts like Facebook and Twitter. The staff and professionals at these organizations are all using social media to raise awareness of their brand and to communicate with community members. Many communities also have Facebook groups specifically for lost and found pets; search to see if your community does also. Post or send a message with photos and a description of your lost pet so that these social media pages can share!

National Celebrity Dog Trainer and “NY Times” best-selling author, Harrison Forbes,a frequent guest on the “Today Show” (NBC) as their featured resident dog behavior expert, will share his expertise on keeping pets safe and pet behavior at the event. Pet owners are urged to bring their most challenging pet behavior issues to Forbes - it’s a challenge that he enjoys.

“The Richmond Pet Expo is not only a one-of-a-kind event for pet lovers where their pets can socialize and enjoy a fun day out with their best friend, but it’s also a great opportunity for pet owners to directly connect with pet service providers, such as veterinarians, trainers and rescue groups, who work in their community,” explains Forbes.

The 2014 Richmond Pet Expo will take place on Saturday, May 3rd, 2014 from 10am to 6pm, at the Richmond Raceway Complex. This FREE, indoor and air-conditioned event will attract nearly 10,000 attendees along with their furry, feathered and reptilian pals who are looking to enjoy a new and one-of-a-kind experience where all pets are welcome. All well-behaved pets can attend, as long as they’re on a fixed lead (or in a carrier) and have proof of age-appropriate rabies vaccines.

The 2014 Richmond Pet Expo is produced by Amazing Expos, a leading event production firm that currently produces more than 39 large pet expos across the United States. For more information, call 800.977.3609, email info@richmondpetexpo.com or visit us online athttp://www.richmondpetexpo.com, orhttps://www.facebook.com/RichmondPetExpo or https://twitter.com/AmazingPetExpo.