This topic may seem like a no brainer… Until you’re ordering a dog or cat collar tag and have to make tough decisions for limited character lines. Dog ID tags and cat collar tags are not only kind of cute (or downright fashionable depending on your taste in bling,) they are crucial to your pet’s safety and well being. Should your animal accidentally run off, a tag could determine whether they ever find their way home again.
Whether your dog or cat is prone to wander or seems like a total homebody, ID tags are a must. But even though most people know pet identification tags are important, most pet parents don’t bother putting one on their animal friends. According to an article in the New York Times, 80 percent of pet owners say it’s important that pets wear identification, yet only one in three owners actually put them on their pets.
Once you’ve chosen the perfect tag, whether it’s a basic stainless steel circle or a showstopper decked out with crystals, the next hardest part is figuring out what to do with the few lines you have to describe the best way to get Fluffy home.
There are several options for what info to share depending on the size of the tag, ranging from your home address to tech-savvy QR codes. Though QR codes can link to plenty of information, we can’t recommend tags that only have QR codes because not every person is comfortable enough with modern technology to use them. If someone’s great-grandmother scoops Fluffy up but doesn’t know what a QR code is, Fluffy might have a harder time finding you again.
Every tag should list your pet’s name (preferably including your last name), the best phone number to reach you, and the city where you reside. For example: Fluffy Smith, 555.234.1990, Frisco, TX. If your dog is microchipped, attach a second tag behind the first with the microchip company’s name and phone number.
Finally, attach recent vaccinations so whoever finds your friend knows she’s current on her shots. LazyPaw Animal Hospitals includes these tags with vaccinations, and your animal hospital should give or mail you an updated tag after each round. In many states, wearing this tag is the law. Besides, the number on the rabies tag is one more way to identify your pet—and you—if they are lost.
It’s important to check ID charms every few months to make sure tags are well attached, engravings are still legible and haven’t been worn down, and information is still current.
Pet ID tags are easy, cheap, and could save your pet’s life. Check your pet’s tags to ensure they’re current and in good condition, and if your pet doesn’t have a tag, we encourage you to go get one!
Image Credit – woofwoofmama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/free-pet-id-tag.jpg
