Do you have a dog that you love and care for unconditionally and the thought of something happening to them such as escaping from home or being run over by a car sends shivers down your spine? Well unfortunately there are millions of dogs every year that enter shelters because they have either been abandoned or have run away from home.

Here are some sad statics in regards to runaway dogs.

? Approximately 8-12 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year and approximately 5-9 million are euthanized (60% of dogs and 70% of cats).

? Shelter intakes are about evenly divided between those relinquished by owners and those picked up by animal control. These are national estimates; the percentage of euthanasia may vary from state to state.

? Only 15-20% of dogs are returned to their owners. Most of these were identified with tags, tattoos or microchips.

? 25% of dogs that enter local shelters are purebred.

To ensure that nothing happens to your dog here are some things that you can do.

Reduce Their Ability To Escape.

Many dogs live outside, ensure that you have adequate fencing for the type of breed of dog that you have. If you do not like the look of a conventional fence then look at purchasing an Underground Dog Fence kit. A common misconception about underground dog fencing is that is needs to be buried "Underground". This unfortunate but understandable misconception often scares many people away from enjoying the freedom that these fences provide both you and your dog. There is no need to waste a weekend burying the wire underground, or paying a person hundreds of dollars to bury the boundary wire when it can be installed above ground in only a matter of an hour or two. You can also use this type of fencing on the inside of your current fencing to deter your dog from jumping over your fence or trying to digging under it.

Ensure That They Have Proper Identification

Of the dogs that are lost 90 percent of the pets without identification never see their owners again. But on the up side 90 percent of the ones that have identification are returned to their owners

To ensure that your dog is returned to you there are a few things that you can do.

? Have your dog microchipped

? Have your dog tattooed with your contact details or

? For about $20.00 a year you can have your dog entered into a nationwide database and you get special tags to put on their collar. If your pet is lost, whoever finds it can call the toll-free number, give the operator your pet's ID number (also on the tag), and the operator will call you to let you know your pet has been found.

Keep Your Dog Safe

Keep your dog safe. Your dog does not need to become a shelter statistic. By taking precautionary measure you can ensure that you and your dog can live a happy and long life together.