Pet Tips and Information

Advancing an already thriving Chicago pet lover community. Providing information to users about Chicago pet care, lost pet hotlines, pet loss & pet bereavement support, no kill shelters and nonprofit pet enterprises.

Pet Identification

We strongly recommend you buy metal dog tags for each of your pets. dog microchips will aid in locating your dog in the event he is lost.  A few resources:

National Dog Registry - NDR
800-637-6347

http://www.nationaldogregistry.com/

Call and consultation free to anyone with a lost or found pet. Registry: $15 single pet (lifetime) and $ 38 (lifetime) for all pets. Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days.

Avid Microchips
800-434-2843
http://www.avidmicrochip.com/

HomeAgain Microchips
1-888-466-3242
http://www.homeagain.com/1_0.html

Lost Pet Hotlines

There are many organizations that can help local your best friend in the event she is lost. Contact your local humaine society or animal shelter to get the word out.  A few resources to help your search:

Petfinders/Pet Club of America (nonprofit)
800-666-5678

http://www.petclub.org/

http://www.petfinder.com/

Free lost/found search for members; monthly search charge (aprx. $10) for nonmembers. Membership fees: $20/yr for the first pet and $5 for each additional pet. Hours: 9am - 5pm EST, M-F.

The PetWork
http://www.petwork.com/The%20PetWork.html
In addition to providing information about recovering lost pets, this site provides information on pet rescue, pet health, and businesses that sell pet related services.

Pet Loss & Pet Bereavement Support Hotlines

There are a variety of organizations that provide support when Spot moves on to doggy heaven. Contact your local animal shelter or humane society, they often provide support groups.These pet loss hotlines are often free of charge.

Chicago Veterinary Medical Association in conjunction with the Delta Society
708-603-3994

http://www.chicagovma.org/

Consultation is free. Hours: 7pm to 9pm CST, M-F.

Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine
517-336-2696

http://cvm.msu.edu/alumni-friends/information-for-animal-owners/pet-loss-support

Consultation is free. Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 5:30 to 8:30 pm CST.

Center for Animals in Society at the University California at Davis
916-752-4200

http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/

Consultation is free. Hours: 8:30pm to 11:30pm CST, M-F during school year.

University of Florida at Gainesville, College of Veterinary Medicine
904-392-4700, ext. 4080

http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/

Consultation is free. Hours: 6pm to 8pm pm CST, 7 days a week

Animal Poison Control Hotline

In event of an emergency involving poison, it is important to have a twenty four hour resource at your fingertips:

National Animal Poison Control Center - University of Illinois

800-548-2423

http://www.anapsid.org/resources/napcc.html

800 number: for vets and pet owners; $30 per case, major credit cards accepted.
900 number: nonemergency questions; $20 for first 5 minutes, then $2.95/min with a $20 minimum.
Offers poison control info by veterinarians. Hours: anytime.

Veterinary Helplines

To learn more about veterinarians or pet healthcare in Chicago or anywhere you are in the country, visit the sites below. Some of these sites are for general vet care and others focus on specialized vet care.

American Association of Animal Hospitals
800-252-2242

http://www.aahanet.org/

American Holistic Veterinary Medical Assn.
410-569-0795

www.ahvma.org

International Veterinary Acupuncture Society
215-827-7245
http://www.ivas.org/

National Centre for Homeopathy
703-548-7790

http://www.animalchiropractic.org/

American Veterinary Chiropractic Assn.
309-523-3995
http://www.animalchiropractic.org/

Pet Insurance

As with human health care costs, the cost of caring for your best friend is ever increasing.  Pet insurance works somewhat differently than human insurance in many regards but one fact remains the same: under certain circumstances, it helps protect against large unknown costs associated with caring for your pet.  If you are interested in pet insurance, we suggest you research several providers and speak with your vet and fellow pet owners about their experiences.  We also recommend reading the “fine print” within the policy.  A few sites to check out:

VPI Pet Insurance
888-899-4VPI
http://www.petinsurance.com/index.aspx

PurinaCare
1-877-878-7462
http://www.purinacare.com/index.aspx?DCMP=KNC-CARE-Goog-PCareUS&HBX_PK=pet+insurance&HBX_OU=50

Pet Best Insurance
866-405-3647
http://www.petsbest.com/

Embrace Pet Insurance
1-800-511-9172
http://www.embracepetinsurance.com/

Chicago Animal Shelters & Nonprofit Pet Enterprises

Animal rescue is near and dear to the heart of us at Unleashed.  To begin, we boast the adoption center Lake Shore Animal Shelter, Chicago’s oldest no kill animal shelter, within our four walls.  Other Chicago Animal Shelters and nonprofit animal businesses to visit include:

Lake Shore Animal Shelter
http://www.lakeshoreanimalshelter.org/

Chicago Anti-Cruelty
http://www.anticruelty.org/

PAWS Chicago
http://www.pawschicago.org/

Chicagoland Bully Breed Rescue
http://www.chicagolandbullybreedrescue.org/

A Listing of All Local Shelters:
http://www.pacthumanesociety.org/shelters.htm