As we welcome July, it’s time to mark National Lost Pet Prevention Month – a powerful reminder of just how important it is to keep pets safe and accounted for. At Paw’ty Waggin’, we’re proud to serve families in Abbotsford and Mission with trusted home-based pet care and essential safety insights including transports within the Fraser Valley/lower mainland. Summer festivities such as Canada Day fireworks can confuse or frighten pets, resulting in more lost pet reports than almost any other time of year.

Why July Matters

Summer here in British Columbia can be unpredictable for pets these days. Longer daylight hours, outdoor get-togethers, camping trips, and, of course, fireworks, all contribute to an increase in pet escapes. Popular spots like Mill Lake Park, Sumas Mountain or Discovery Trails become busier, doors open more frequently, and pets are more likely to slip out unnoticed during celebrations. We have witnessed this with our own eyes without owners initially noticing at first.

Practical Prevention Strategies – Identification is Your First Line of Defence

It may seem basic—but having updated ID tags and microchip information is the easiest and fastest way to reunite with a lost pet. A microchip acts like a permanent passport home, but it only works if your contact info with the registry is current. Regularly confirm both with your vet and the microchip provider.

Setting Boundaries with Confidence

While we are not dog trainers, Paw’ty Waggin’ places a strong focus on reinforcing pet boundaries during care visits. We consistently work with pets to establish calm behaviours at critical transition points such as doors and gates. Whether it’s preventing door darting from excited dogs or using extra caution during cat care when opening doors, these small but crucial techniques help reduce risks of unexpected escapes.

We encourage every pet owner to practise commands like “sit,” “wait,” and “stay” around entrances, during leash-ups or other transitions along with “place” on a mat or their bed as guests arrive, and at feeding times to help improve your pet’s impulse control and safety. Summer-Specific Precautions To keep your pet safe during the most chaotic parts of summer, try:

• Creating a quiet, secure indoor zone during fireworks
• Alerting visitors to pet safety protocols at your door
• Avoiding letting pets roam unsupervised—even in fenced areas
• Taking updated photos of your pet for quick reference

Special July Offer: Let’s Reward Prevention

As our way of saying thank you for taking proactive steps to protect your pets, Paw’ty Waggin’ is offering an extra 10% off any holiday booking or monthly membership service this next coming month (August) when you show us either of these this month of July:

• A recent vet invoice or printout confirming your pet’s microchip and or or ID tag info is updated
• Proof of practising training cues such as sit, wait, or place (self-led or with a trainer)

Let’s Keep our Pets Home—Where They Belong

Lost pet prevention isn’t just a July topic—it’s a year-round commitment. This month, let’s work together, share knowledge with our neighbours, and keep the precious pets of the Fraser Valley safe and sound.