Maintaining Effective Pet Records
If you pet becomes lost, updated, accurate and well maintained records can be invaluable in helping you get your pet back as quickly as possible. There are different ways of maintaining your pet’s records, depending on your form of organization and how you store other records. You can use manilla folders organized within a storage box, or you can use binders and hole punch all the records, or you can also use online records storage services.
If you choose the use of manilla folders, first have a different folder for each pet. Don’t combine together the records of all your pets into one folder. My personal choice is to use manila folders with the name of each pet on the tab. I then keep each folder in a storage box with other critical records that I need to have immediate access. I have found this method easy to take out and put back records quickly. Sometimes, I just take the whole folder with me, depending on the size, so the important documents I might need for a vet visit don’t get removed and possibly lost. For example, if I am getting a new dog license, I may take the whole folder with the spay/neuter certificate and vaccinations directly to the office and display them to the staff that way. I have received many positive comments from shelter and business office staff how organized I appear to have the records at hand, even though some of the records are over twelve years old.
Another method I have seen is binders, one for each pet, and to hold punch each of the records or put the records into plastic sheet protectors. These ensures the records to be safe and protected inside the plastic sheets. Often times when a records is hole punched, it can tear away from the binder and become lost.
A third method that exists to store and keep records safe is the use of online records storage services. This could be very helpful for people who travel a lot with or without their pets, and may need immediate access to their pet’s records. This would enable them to not have to carry paper records of their pets with them all the time. Simply enter the words “pet records” into the search, and many companies will be available to view.
After the pet as passed on, you can use different type of system for the pet’s records, which makes the records more permanent and secure. I have used a multi-divider folder with two hole punches at the top. With the use of the multiple sections, it is easier to see the records and to decide which ones are the most important to keep or discard. For example, it may or may not be important to keep certain veterinary or dog license records, depending on the dog. However, it may be sentimental and important to organize and keep any certificates of achievements, ribbons and photos.
Once your pet’s records are organized, then these are the important documents you will need to have immediate access to if your pet becomes lost. You will need clear, color photos of your pet. See the section about taking effective photos. You will then need to notify your pet’s microchip registry, if your pet has a microchip. This needs to be done as soon as possible since many companies have their own database in which they will send out your pet’s information. For example, some companies will send out notices to local vets, shelters, rescue groups and other pet related businesses that sign up to be notified.
It can be extremely important, in a time of crisis, if your pet becomes lost, to have their records immediately available to act as quickly as possible to find them.
