6 Phone Numbers Every Pet Owner Should Have On Hand
Life as a pet owner is unbelievably rewarding, but it can also be stressful! Your pet relies on you not only to provide food and shelter but also to keep him/her safe in whatever comes your way. Make sure you’re prepared for anything with this list of phone numbers every pet owner should have on hand!
If you’re new to the world of pet ownership, Congratulations!
Welcome to one of the most exciting, hilarious, heartwarming and frightening journeys of your life. Experienced pet owners reading this know exactly what I mean.
Unfortunately, our pets don’t come with an owner’s manual. Wouldn’t that be convenient? Instead, we have to do our best to learn on the go while discovering any resources that we can along the way. It can be a lot!
I have an accident-prone dog; I know firsthand that you can’t always prevent a situation from happening… Even if you pet-proof your whole home to the best of your abilities, they will somehow find that one small detail that you overlooked!
Don’t worry, today I’m coming to you with my list of important phone numbers every pet owner should have readily available.
With these numbers, you will have qualified professionals just a phone call away regardless of what antics your pet may get up to.
Print out these numbers and stick them up on your fridge so that every family member can access them if needed. If you are travelling and hire a pet sitter, print this list and provide it to them along with your pet care instructions.
It’s always better to be prepared!
Here Are 6 Phone Numbers Every Pet Owners Should Have Close At Hand!
#1 – Your Veterinarian
The relationship between a pet owner and their veterinarian is SO important.
Whether you’re stressing about a potential injury or simply reaching out to make an appointment for your pet’s next rabies vaccine, this is a phone number that you’re going to use often. Why waste time having to look it up every time?
#2 – Nearest 24/7 Emergency Clinic
If your veterinarian is also a 24/7 emergency clinic, you can skip this. Otherwise, you’ll need to do your research and find which clinic is nearest to you.
If your pet has an accident outside of your vet’s normal hours and requires care, you’re likely already stressed and worried. Why add to that stress by leaving yourself frantically searching to find somewhere that you can go?
Not only should you post the phone number, include the clinic’s name and address to make it easier to find in a hurry.
Related: ‘Be Prepared With This DIY Dog First Aid Kit’
#3 – Pet Poison Helpline (1-855-764-7661)
If your pet has ingested something that they shouldn’t or come in contact with a toxic or dangerous substance, you want answers as quickly as possible. Precious moments can make a difference…
The Pet Poison Helpline is a service available to residents of Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean.
This number will put you in touch with an expert quickly if you are dealing with a poisoning situation and is open to pets of ALL species.
There is an ‘incident fee’ applied ($59 USD), however, that price is small compared to what you may be facing if poisoning or toxic exposure isn’t addressed as quickly as possible! This service is available 24/7.
#4 – Local Animal Control
No one wants to think about what happens if your pet were to go missing, but it’s a scary reality that man pet owners have faced. You may go into panic mode, leaving you wondering what to do next – so here’s a way that you can make it a little easier.
Having your local animal control number on hand will allow you to connect with them quickly and easily to check if they have picked up your pet already.
In addition to an incident involving your own pet, you will want to contact your local Animal Control if you notice another animal loose in your neighbourhood. They may even be attracted to your yard due to your pets.
#5 – CANADACHIP Recovery Database (1-800-396-1896)
Another important tool in the event that your pet goes missing, the CANADACHIP Recovery Database is a hotline and national database of microchip information.
Offered by the Canadian Kennel Club, the CANADACHIP program offers microchips for companion animals through veterinarians and breeders.
While it is not the only recovery service, the various databases work carefully together in order to help get your pet home quickly and safely. In the event that you do need to speak with a different database, they are happy to connect you.
Related: ‘Looking For A Pet Sitter? 9 Tips You Should Consider!’
#6 – Pet Travel Information (1-877-241-0184)
If you are considering taking your pet along on your next trip, this number (and the PetTravel.com website) is SO valuable!
Founded by a pet-loving travel agent (and his pup), the business has now grown to include a larger number of employees ready to answer your pet travel questions. They are referred by both the CFIA here in Canada s well as the USDA south of the border.
Whether you’re concerned about the rules of pet airline travel or searching for a pet-friendly hotel, give them a call.
What important numbers are listed on your fridge? Can you think of any additional phone numbers every pet owner should have readily available? If so, share them in the comments section!
This is a wonderful list of needed phone numbers for pets. In a blink of an eye they can get into anything they aren’t supposed to. We most certainly have our vet number on hand but now might add the others too!
That’s just it, you honestly never know! Even the best behaved pets can get into trouble when you least expect it.
Absolutely fantastic information for both the new pet owners and those of us who have lived with pets for decades. I grew up with dogs and have had cats for 20 years, but didn’t think of all of these. Thanks for the nudge.
Honestly, I learned some of these the hard way… I will never forget the day my accident prone dog needed stitches and I was trying to track down what emergency vets were open in the area… SO stressful!
Very good phone numbers for your pet. I will get these all together and print out a little phone book.
Great idea! You can never be too prepared!
I don’t have a pet but for people who do not know who to contact for their pet needs, this information is very informative and useful?
Thank you!
Yes it must be a must for every pet owner to have these numbers handy for the time they need it. Sickness comes at times like an emergency and having them in sight is a great idea. The same should be done for our illness emergency too with relevant phone numbers.
Exactly! You can never be too prepared for any member of the family.
I’m not a pet owner, but I have to admit this is such a helpful list.
Thank you!
I don’t have any animals at home anymore as of current but this list would be useful if I did
Something to remember if you do someday in the future 🙂
Very complete list. I find my veterinary phone and 24/7 clinic numbers the most important, I always have not not only in my phone but also in the card I put into my walking bag just in case.
I think a lot of people overlook the importance of a 24/7 clinic. Unless your vet is also operating an emergency clinic, there’s always the risk that something is going to happen outside of operating hours. You don’t want to be caught off-guard!
Great resources for pet lovers! These are very helpful especially in times of emergencies!
Thank you!
This is such a great list here. So many handy numbers and deffo useful when there is a pet problem x
Thank you!
It’s a great idea to keep all of these numbers on hand for emergencies. The last thing you want to be doing is search for a phone number when your pet is in trouble! And it’s especially true if someone else is looking after your pet.
Exactly! Those are important moments that are better spent helping your pet during a scary moment like that.
Great list! Something handy all pet owners like me need to have. When my dog choked on her food, I was so panic stricken.
I would be too! While a list like this isn’t going to prevent scary moments like that, it does prepare us to handle them better.
I had no clue the pet poison hotline was a thing! What an amazing tool to learn about for pets. I have a friend who just got a new dog, and I’ll be passing this on to her too, because I’m sure it will be even more important with a puppy.
Definitely! Puppies have a tendency to get into everything and anything lol
This is such a good list – people often forget about pet control but everyone should know that number – we’ve had to use it for birds stuck or hurt in the past while out.
We recently had to use it to connect with a local wildlife rescue for an injured squirrel in our yard. You never know when you’re going to need something like that!
This is such an informative post! I bet a lot of pet owners have no idea about the different numbers they may need.
Amber – The Unpredicted Page
Thank you! Unfortunately, I learned a lot of this from experience. I hope that sharing this information will help other pet owners to be better prepared and avoid some of the stress that I’ve faced.