Many households own a family pet. These vary hugely from the obscure to the more common such as cats and dogs. Pets can be a really rewarding and exiting experience for children, parents and grandparents alike.
Cats are very playful and cute whilst dogs are loyal, friendly and can be excellent at protecting the household from unwanted visitors. Dogs love to play, catch balls and go for walks. Cats generally go out alone to meet other cats in the neighbourhood and can be very independent animals.
One of the most worrying things that can happen is if their pet goes missing. Missing pets can cause an extraordinary amount of stress and worry to owners. Lost cats in particular can be difficult to find because they can be stuck on a roof out of sight, behind a shed, or could have sadly been involved in a road accident.
A lost dog is often easier to find because most people will take notice of a dog that is on its own, compared to a cat that many people may not assume is actually lost.
Microchips establish whom a pet belongs to once it is found. It can then easily be reunited with its family.
In the UK there are specialised pet detective agencies that search for missing pets. Using search teams of people and dogs, which are trained specifically for the task, these agencies help to reunite those missing pets with their grateful owners.