Here's another great lost-pet reunion story from our partner, HomeAgain.

While this story features a pet who was recovered even though his guardians hadn't updated his microchip with their contact information, many microchipped pets aren't returned because the contact information associated with the chip is out of date (learn more).

One of the many benefits of enrolling your chip with HomeAgain is that, even if you only enroll once (which gives you access to a year of unbeatable benefits), you'll still get permanent registration with FREE, unlimited updates for the rest of your pet's life.

Learn more about the benefits of enrolling your pet with HomeAgain.

Twinkie found the gate left open -- from Michele Sullivan in Berryville, VA

We recently moved to a new house with a new phone number -- and I had forgotten to update Twinkie's HomeAgain information.

We live on a very busy rural road where cars zip by at 50 mph. Our house is on an acre which is completely fenced.

My husband let Twinkie out early on July 12, while I was still in bed. At 7:30 he came in and said she wasn't in the backyard and we needed to go out now and look for her. I was sick with worry; I just anticipated that the worst had happened and was in a panic, especially because I immediately recalled that I had left the gate open a little when I did some gardening.

I drove up and down the road looking while Tim combed the woods behind the back fence with no luck. I happened to be at home when my phone rang around 8:30 -- it was my sister, the one who had microchipped Twinkie and was listed as the alternate contact.

Ticks can cause a number of serious health problems for you and your pet. They can also be difficult to spot and remove. Dr. Michael Dryden, a professor of veterinary parasitology at Kansas State University, sat down with radio host Steve Dale of Steve Dale's Pet World to talk about the dangers ticks pose, and how to prevent them. (Watch the video of the interview above.)

Here are some tick facts every pet parent needs to know:

1. Ticks can infect you and your pet with serious, possibly deadly illnesses. According to Dr. Dryden, ticks are the No. 1 disease vector in the U.S. They carry Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and many other serious illnesses.


2. Tick populations are growing across the U.S. The past several years have seen a spike in the tick population. The spread of white-tailed deer (a tick carrier), climate change and changes in agricultural practices have all contributed.


3. Cats are at risk too. Indoor-outdoor cats can catch cytauxzoonosis, a disease which is most often fatal, from ticks. For this and many other reasons, it's best to keep cats indoors. If your cat has access to an outdoor enclosure or takes harnessed walks with you, talk to your vet about protecting him from ticks.


4. Different tick species live in different regions. "There are at least nine different tick species in North America that routinely get on dogs and cats," Dr. Dryden says. "You have to talk to your veterinarian and ask: What ticks [is your pet] going to be exposed to? What disease are they going to be exposed to? And what product is going to be most effective?"


5. Ticks can do harm when you least expect it. Even if you're not seeing ticks, they can still pose a threat -- so be sure to talk to your vet long before "tick season" starts. Because vets see a large number of pets in your region, Dr. Dryden says, "your veterinarian is going to pick up that ticks are active long before you may."

Tell us: Have you ever taken a tick off of your dog or cat?

California lawmakers are considering making microchipping shelter and rescue animals mandatory in what could be the first major microchipping law in the US. Senate Bill 702, sponsored by California Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, would require that all dogs and cats be microchipped before being adopted or returned to their owners, in the case of lost pets.

Advocates of the bill hope to increase the number of lost pets returned to their homes and reduce the cost of caring for lost pets.

The Associated Press reports (read the full article here):

California taxpayers pay about $300 million every year to impound 1 million dogs and cats, house them and euthanize half of them, according to the Cities and Counties Annual Reports submitted to the state controller. Thirteen percent of lost pets entering shelters in California are reunited
with owners, Lieu said, but studies show that number could grow to 75 percent with chips.

Dr. Linda K. Lord, associate dean for student affairs at Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, studied 53 shelters in 23 states between August 2007 and March 2008. Co-authors included another veterinarian, a humane society representative and a consultant to a Canadian pharmaceutical company, which was also parent to a microchip manufacturer.

They found shelters located owners of microchipped pets in three out of four cases.

When owners couldn't be found, it was because of incorrect or outdated contact information in the chipmaker's registration database, Lord said.

Opponents of the bill cite health concerns for the pets and taking the choice away from pet parents. However, when the Associated Press interviewed four veterinarians about the risks of microchips they stressed that -- when inserted properly -- health risks to the pet are unlikely.

Tell us: Do you believe all shelter and rescue pets should be microchipped?

The weekend of Petfinder's Big Birthday Adopt Event arrived at a busy time for our little Spencer, NY, volunteer-run rescue, Wildrun. As a Petfinder staffer, I planned to spend Sunday supporting our shelter and rescue-group members, but as Wildrun's founder, I wanted to take advantage of the extra buzz and easy publicity tools for the big adoption event.

At the last minute, we decided to go for it and hold an adoption event on Saturday. Our local paper squeaked our press release in at the last moment. We printed  the Petfinder-provided flyers and cards, and I posted Petfinder's ready-made graphics and volunteer appeal on Wildrun's blog. Friends responded with promises to help out -- and we were ready to go!

When adopters arrive at a shelter or rescue, their heart is often snagged by the charming cat who reaches out a friendly
paw to say, "Take me home!" Or visitors may feel drawn to a shy cat with scared eyes who just needs some love and security to bring out her brave side.

But Tiger Tom, a handsome cat abandoned here in 2005, was passed over year after year. He was shy with strangers and could look positively grumpy despite his sweet disposition.

Because he was a familiar-looking brown tiger short hair, he faded into the background compared to flashier-looking cats and cute bouncy kittens. At off-site events, he stubbornly hid under a towel.

Of course, as soon as the strangers left, he would hop down from his cubby, headbutt his fellow cats affectionately and roll over for a belly rub. He looked like a little stuffed cat with his short legs and plush fur.

Tiger Tom was a highly adoptable cat. He just refused to show it to visitors!

When the blog post about our Petfinder Big Birthday Adoption Event went public, longtime reader Georg left the comment: "Jazz and I will be there, with an empty cat carrier." Georg, along with several friends, regularly crocheted kitty blankets for shelters, including Wildrun. She and Jazz had recently had two beloved pets pass on from old age, and they wanted to adopt a cat who had been homeless a long time.

And Saturday was Tiger Tom's lucky day: Even though he put on his "grumpy face," Georg and Jazz chose him! That night I emailed them a video of Tom being cute, so they could see how he would blossom once he settled in. After a pre-adoption check-up and a dental, he went to his new home on Sunday.

Two other adult cats -- Tyler, who had been with Wildrun for a year, and Portia, a five-month resident, were also adopted at our birthday event. For a tiny rescue at a short-notice event, three adult-cat adoptions is huge!

Sometimes it takes just a little bit more to find those special adopters who see beyond a grumpy face. Thank you to Petfinder for making it easy to hold our Big Birthday Adoption Event. It was the best party ever for Tiger Tom!

Here's what you can expect from your dog's veterinary exams when he is a senior. Check out our guides to what to expect from your puppy's vet trips and your adult dog's visits.

Senior-dog exams
(7 years and older):
The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends that senior dogs see a vet twice a year. But since smaller breeds generally live longer than larger breeds, different dogs are considered "seniors" at different ages. Work with your vet to determine what preventative care is best for your dog as he gets older.

With senior dogs, "blood work becomes increasingly important," veterinarian and Pawcurious blogger Dr. V tell us, "because problems like kidney disease or liver disease may show up on blood work well before the pet is showing clinical signs of disease. Older pets are also often arthritic, and while those signs may be subtle, there is a lot your vet can offer to help your pet age gracefully and comfortably."

Basic senior-dog exams usually include:

• A full physical examination
• Stool check for parasites
• Vaccinations
• Possible heartworm test and preventative
• May also include blood work, radiographs or x-rays, urine testing, and more

Questions to ask the vet:

• Is my dog the right weight?
• Does he need all the vaccines he got when he was younger?
• Are there any side effects of the vaccinations or heartworm preventative?
• Does my dog need a professional dental cleaning or any tooth extractions?
• If a procedure is necessary, what are the risks of anesthesia?
  
• What websites do you recommend as a trusted source of information? (This can be especially important if your pet has just received a new diagnosis.)
• Is my dog slowing down because of age, or could he have arthritis?
• Should my dog go out more frequently to use the bathroom?
  
• Is there anything I can do to help my senior dog get around better?
• Should I change my dog's diet or are there any supplements you'd recommend?
• Is there anything I should be doing to keep my dog comfortable in the summer or winter?
• Is there anything I can do to reduce my dog's risk of cancer? Are there signs I should watch out for?
• When should my dog come back for his next exam?

Learn more about caring for your dog during all stages of his life.

Here's what you can expect from your dog's veterinary exams when she is an adult. Stay tuned for a guide to your senior dog's vet visits, or check out our guide to what to expect from your puppy's vet trips.

Adult-dog exams
(ages 18 months to 7 years):
The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends that adult dogs see the vet at least once a year for regular exams, whether they need vaccinations or not. These exams help your vet keep a record of your dog's normal health and behavior, and catch signs of illness as early as possible.

"In an adult-dog wellness exam, the emphasis is usually on preventive care, and catching health issues such as obesity and dental disease early, before they become a problem," says veterinarian and Pawcurious blogger Dr. V.

"Obesity is a very common example," she continues. "If you get an overweight pet back down to a healthy weight before degenerative joint problems set in, they will have a longer and healthier life. Although it is uncommon, young adults can unfortunately still be afflicted with dangerous diseases like cancer, kidney disease or heart disease, and we like to catch those as early as possible with routine examinations."

Basic adult exams usually include:

• A full physical examination
• Stool check for parasites
• Mouth check for periodontal disease
• Vaccinations
• Possible heartworm test and preventative

Questions to ask the vet:

• Is my dog the right weight?
• Are there any side effects of the vaccinations or heartworm preventative?
• What at-home dental care do you recommend for my pet?
• What vaccines do you recommend for my dog?
• When should my dog come back for her next exam?

Learn more about the developmental stages of your dog's life.

As your dog ages, his health needs change. Here's what you can expect from veterinary exams when your dog is a puppy. Stay tuned for guides to vet visits for adult and senior dogs.

Puppy and adolescent exams
(ages 6 weeks to 18 months):
Your dog's early checkups can determine his attitude toward vet visits for the rest of his life, so take your time and allow both you and him to get comfortable. (Having treats on hand can go a long way!)

During the exam, your vet will take a baseline of your pet's health so he can note changes later in life. "Things a veterinarian will look for include function of all of the pet's major organ systems, signs of birth defects and abnormal disease, proper mental function and injury," veterinarian Raelynn Farnsworth tells The Seattle Times.

Basic puppy and adolescent exams usually include:

• Full physical examination
• Stool check for parasites
• Deworming, if necessary
  
• Vaccinations
• Possibly a heartworm test
  

"It's important to clarify that the physical examination itself is the same no matter the age of the pet," says Dr. V, veterinarian and author of the blog Pawcurious. "A thorough examination will allow the veterinarian to examine each organ system in a systematic manner that allows him or her to catch problems early."

Questions to ask the vet:

• What should I be feeding my puppy, and how much should I give him?
• Do you have tips for housetraining or training in general?
• When should my puppy be spayed or neutered?
• How often should my puppy be vaccinated, and for what?
• Is it safe for my puppy to go outside or to see other dogs yet?
• Does my puppy need to be on a flea, tick or heartworm preventative?
• When should my puppy come back for his next exam?

For more information about your puppy's veterinary care, check out our New Puppy Health Guide.

Last week, in honor of our Big Birthday Adoption Event, we asked you to post pictures of your pets in party hats to our Facebook wall -- and 133 of you did!

All the photos were great. Here we're sharing 15 of them in honor of 15 years of Petfinder and the more than 15,000 pets who were adopted last weekend. Enjoy!

Photo: Emily Harrington

 

Photo: Amanda M. Sullivan Swain

 

Thank you to all of you who adopted, volunteered and helped us spread the word about Petfinder's Big Birthday Adoption Event last weekend. It was a huge success!

Our goal was to find homes for 15,000 pets in one weekend. But when all the groups had reported in, it turned out that a whopping 15,700 pets had found forever homes -- and many more had great leads on possible homes.

And the success stories are pouring in. Here are just a few of our favorites:

First-ever Petfinder adoption!
Animed Pet Adoption Center in Dedham, MA, had just become a Petfinder member -- and had its first Petfinder adoption this weekend with lucky Cairn Terrier mix Toto. And the adoption applications have kept coming. "It feels like the Boston Bruins winning the Stanley Cup all over again," says Animed vet tech Greta Grundstrom.

Love at first sight!
At the multi-organization event in Oakland, CA, Petfinder staffer Jessica Harris met the Fredericks, who'd just adopted Pit mix Cookie from the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society. When Jessica took their picture, she says, "I tried and tried to get Cookie to look into the camera, but couldn't -- she wouldn't take her eyes off her new mom!" Playing for keeps!
Cabot Animal Control in Arkansas found homes for one cat and five dogs during its kid-centric adoption event, which featured cake, face-painting and a spacewalk. "I was so excited that I got in the bouncy house and went crazy!" says Brandy Buie, Cabot Animal Control's rescue coordinator.

Double the love!
Adoptions at K9Kastle in New York City more than doubled: Volunteer Emily Beck says that, on a typical weekend, the group finds homes for "three or four pets, tops" -- but at its  event on Sunday, eight pets were adopted!

Six horses go home!
The Shepherds Way Animal Rescue in Springdale, WA, which rehabs abused and neglected horses and offers free riding lessons to disadvantaged kids, reports that six of its horses were adopted. "The outpouring of the community to help children and horses was unprecedented for us," says executive director Carrie Aenk.

A five-year resident is adopted!
Tiger Tom, who'd lived at Wildrun in Spencer, NY, for five years, finally found a family on Saturday. "Now he has a new work-from-home mom and dad who will be able to keep him company every moment of the day," says Wildrun founder (and Petfinder staffer) Susan Greene.

Hundreds find homes at mega-events!
In 10 major cities, multiple groups joined forces for mega-events. Petfinder's Sara Kent went to one of them, at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare and Education Center in Madison, NJ. "It was a blast, complete with a live band, face painting and free Petfinder birthday cake for all visitors," she says. More than 343 pets found homes at these multi-organization events.

Did you or your favorite adoption group do something for our Big Birthday Adoption Event? Tell us below!

On Monday we brought you five ways to keep your indoor cat cool. Today, we're going to the dogs. Help keep your dog safe and healthy during the heat wave with these tips:

1. Watch out for heatstroke. Symptoms include panting, lethargy, drooling, fever, vomiting and collapse. If you think your dog may have heatstroke, get the vet ASAP -- the condition can cause permanent organ damage and death.
   
   Breeds with shorter noses (such as Pugs, Shi Tzus, Pekingese, Bulldogs and Boxers) as well as very young and senior dogs are especially vulnerable. Learn more about heatstroke in pets.


2. Give your dog extra water. You will need to refill your dog's water bowl more often than usual on very hot days.
   
   
3. Offer your dog several ways to cool off. Leave a fan on in a place where your dog can sit in front of it, add some ice cubes to his water or offer him a cool treat. (A Kong that's stuffed with wet food or peanut butter, then frozen, is cooling and a great way to keep your dog entertained.)


4. Never leave your dog alone inside a car. Even with the windows cracked, the inside of a car can heat up to 120 degrees in a matter of minutes on a warm day. And leaving the air conditioning on is no guarantee that your dog will be safe. Watch this PSA about pets in hot cars.


5. Take your walks in the morning or evening. The intense heat of midday can overwhelm your dog during a walk. Exercise your dog during the cooler hours and, if your dog is in the sun for an extended period of time, apply doggie sunscreen. Learn more about sunscreen for pets.


6. Don't leave your dog outside for more than a few minutes. Even in the shade, a dog exposed to extreme heat and humidity is at risk for heatstroke.


7. Avoid hot sidewalks. Your dog's paws can easily become burned on hot surfaces, including pavement, blacktop and sand.


8. Brush your dog regularly. A clean, untangled coat can help ward off summer skin problems and help your dog stay cool. If you want to give your dog a haircut, and your vet thinks it will help him cope with the heat, keep his fur at least one inch long to protect him from the sun. (Shaving down to the skin is not recommended.)
   


9. Be alert for coolant leaking from your vehicle. Dogs are attracted to the sweet taste of coolant, and just a small amount can make your dog sick -- or even cause death. If you believe your dog may have ingested coolant, take him to the vet right away.

To learn more about keeping your dog healthy and comfortable during these hot months, check out our Summer Pet Safety section.