Pet owners, families, drivers, & local shelters in Orange County, New York, are all affected by the growing issue of wandering & lost pets. Wandering pets can pose a danger to themselves & others, they may run into traffic, become injured, or even cause car accidents. It's also important to consider the possibility of these pets attacking other animals or being attacked by them, they could also hurt people they come across. Without visible identification like a collar or a tag, even well-meaning neighbors who find a pet often have trouble finding its owner. Microchips help, but they require a trip to a shelter to scan, & not everyone can take that extra step.

What’s often missing is prevention of the source: keeping pets from getting out of the home in the first place. Fencing is expensive, & not every household can afford or install it. That’s why part of this proposal includes offering free safety gates. Safety gates are simple, affordable tools similar to baby gates that help block exits & doorways inside a home. Combined with free ID tags & microchipping, these tools can help keep pets safe before they ever go missing.

If we don't address this issue, more pets will be lost, more animals will end up in shelters, & more preventable injuries could occur. Every week, local platforms like Neighbors Ring show multiple posts about lost pets. Often without ID tags or collars, these pets may never make it home, & animal shelters bear the responsibility to care for them until they find its owners or the pet gets adopted. However, if we make identification easier & more accessible, we can prevent these outcomes & protect both people & animals.

This issue is personal to me. About 5 years ago, my dog ran into oncoming traffic on Temple Hill Rd. We didn’t have any fences at the time, & she made a run for it. My sister & I chased after her onto the busy road & thankfully, every driver stopped & no one was hurt. But if things had gone differently, it would’ve been my fault. I wasn’t careful enough, & I caused a risk to both my dog & the drivers on the road that day. Since then, I’ve supervised her closely, I check the cameras, put up a baby gate, & always made sure she’s wearing her collar when she goes outside, even for a few seconds, or when I’m not home. As pet owners, we take full responsibility in how we take care of our animal companions. They may just be a part of our lives, but for them, we’re their entire life. That’s why we should prioritize their safety & take care of them the best we can, we owe it to them to do better.

Now is the time to act. Summer is just beginning, traffic is heavier, people & pets are outside more often, & the risk of pets running loose could rise. As a community, we have the power to reduce these dangers by supporting a free Pet ID & Microchipping Day in Orange County. This event could positively impact hundreds of families & pets across Cornwall, New Windsor, Washingtonville, & beyond.

Sign this petition to support responsible pet ownership & help create a safer community for everyone, animals included.