(Editor's note: Veterinarian David Webster and his staff at Hope Crossing Animal Hospital in Pittsboro sent in this notice.)

There have been some sad happenings here at Hope Crossing recently. Because of this, we thought we would share a few things. We have hopes that sharing it will help someone else.

As some of you may know, we had a female puppy brought in on Wednesday that had been hit by a car. She had no ID at all on her. Sadly, a microchip and ID on the collar would not have saved her, but knowing who to contact would have brought her owner closure and peace of mind.

On Saturday, clients of ours brought in a male cat they had rescued from the mouths of two dogs playing tug-o-war with it. Again, this guy did not make it. He was microchipped. However, his owner did not update his information when he moved. We had numbers that had been disconnected. Again, we could not contact the owners.

There was one other thing we noticed: The cat had been de-clawed.

While we totally understand the desire to de-claw a cat that lives in your home, a de-clawed cat should NEVER be allowed outside. It has no way of defending itself. A lot of dogs will back off with one swift smack from a large cat.

There are alternatives to de-clawing that can be safer for the cat and just as effective for your household. Consult a veterinarian prior to making your final decision.

Consider having all pets microchipped. This method of ID is permanent. If you have already had your pets chipped, it may not be a bad idea to call the company and make sure it has updated contact information.

Of course, accidents happen. No one, no matter how good and faithful they are about leashing and containing an animal, can guarantee that it will never get out.

But, should it get out, having proper identification on it, as well as a microchip, is a good way to have it returned (hopefully in good health) and keep it from harm.

Pet ownership is a privilege, and pets rely solely on us to provide for them. They are far, far removed from their wild cousins and need us to do their hunting, gathering and protecting.

In return for all of that, there is a furry face waiting for you when you get home, someone who is always happy to see you, and loves you unconditionally. Sounds pretty fair, huh?