By REBEKAH JOHNSON
Kitsap Humane Society

Last spring, I learned my chocolate Lab mix can jump very high.

I let her out one morning and before I could finish yelling her name, “Ellie,” she had chased a family of deer out of our yard, over the fence and into the woods.

I immediately panicked. Before I knew what I was doing, I was throwing on my tennis shoes and a coat and bounding across my yard frantically calling for my dog.

It was too late. My dog was gone.

I was so worried. I drove around my neighborhood for an hour calling her name. Finally, I received a phone call from a man a mile away letting me know he found my dog (he was able to contact me because of the tags on my dog’s collar). I was so relieved.

I know personally that losing a pet can be traumatizing. Even if you have a fenced yard and you’re a very diligent pet owner, sadly, animals slip away, run off or get lost from time to time.

What should you do if your pet is lost?

First, take steps now (before your pet goes missing) to ensure your pet can be identified and returned to you as soon as possible:

— Collar and tags: When my dog was lost, I was able to be reunited with her very quickly because she was wearing a collar and tags with her name and my phone number. This is an easy and inexpensive way to help your pet be reunited with you if they get lost.

— Microchip your pet: This is one of the quickest ways to get your pet back if they are lost (make sure your microchip information is kept up to date). Money tight? Kitsap Humane Society offers a low-cost vaccine and microchip clinic from 3-4 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month for  low-income Kitsap County residents. Visit www.kitsap-humane.org to learn more.

— License your pet: Licensing your pet will not only help identify and return a lost pet to you, but it is the law to license your cats and dogs in unincorporated Kitsap County (check with your city regarding local laws).

— Spay or neuter your pets: This will reduce your pet’s urge to wander.So, your pet goes missing and you don’t have them microchipped or licensed — here are some helpful suggestions for what to do while searching for your pet.

— Call Kitsap Humane Society’s Lost Pet Line daily at 360-692-6977, ext. 2. This is updated every morning.

— Use social media. Kitsap Lost & Found Pet Search is a great Facebook group to use.

— Visit www.kitsaplostpets.org to search for found animals or to post that you have lost a pet.

— Put up posters of your lost pet around your community.

— Check the lost and found section on Craigslist.

— Use www.findtoto.com.

— Call other shelters in Washington.