People who have pets tend to love animals, and losing a pet can be heartbreaking.

That's why I recommend every Grand Junction pet owner join the Facebook group Lost and Found Pets of Mesa County.

It is astounding to me how many pictures of lost pets are posted on this Facebook page every week. In some cases, the owner lost a dog or a cat and is requesting help to find the missing pet. In many instances, an individual who has found an animal running free and obviously is away from home, will post a picture of the animal in hopes the owner can be located.

I have to say I am impressed with the number of people who take the time and make the effort to find the owner of a pet they have stumbled across. Many times the animals aren't wearing a collar and they aren't micro-chipped, which can make finding the owner extremely difficult.

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind. If your pet turns up missing, I would suggest you immediately go to this Facebook page and report it. The more eyes you have looking for your pet, the better the chances of its successful return home. I would also contact Mesa County Animal Services to see if the pet was taken there. For those that find a dog or a cat, or see one roaming free, take a few minutes and put a report in with this Facebook group.

You hope that you never have to deal with a missing pet, but, sometimes the unexpected happens. Be ready for it. Be sure your pet has a collar, complete with a phone number and address. That one thing greatly increases the odds you'll get your pet back. The other thing to consider is getting your pets chipped. It's gonna cost you a few bucks, but it can give you some peace of mind knowing that if your pet disappears, there's a really good chance it won't be lost forever.

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