As the weather gets warmer, and the days get longer, we tend to do more with our dogs. We take them on walks, out to parks, to different events and festivals around town, some of us even take vacations and travel with our dogs. Amidst all the fun and festivities, many of us never think twice about the thought of our dog being lost. According to the ASPCA, every year 3.9 million dogs are picked up as strays and brought to animal shelters. Of those 2.9 million, 542,000 are returned to their owners. While the statistics don't specify the circumstances of which the dogs were returned (wether it was because of identification on collars/tags, microchips, or the owners calling the animal shelter looking for their pet) one thing is for sure - proper identification can increase the likelihood of your pet making it home.
Proper identification comes in many forms. While it's good to have at least one form of identification, having more than one never hurts. Many local pet stores carry a variety of collars, some even have tag engraving machines in store, for identification you can take with you right then and there!
Tags and Nameplates
Identification that is attached to the dog via a collar of some sort. Not the most permanent form of identification, as tags can fall off of collars, and the collars themselves can be removed from the dog. Important information to have on the tag includes:
In addition to purchasing tags in local pet stores, there are also a few nice hand made tags that can be found online:
Embroidered Collars
In addition to tags and nameplates, you can also purchase a collar with your phone number, and other information embroidered directly onto the collar itself. These are a bit more permanent than tags, since there is nothing to fall off of the collar, but they can still be removed relatively easily from your dog. Embroidered collars typically need to be special ordered, some of my favorite online stores selling embroidered collars include:
Microchipping
A Microchip is a small, smaller than a grain of rice, device that is implanted under your dog's skin. This is a very simple procedure that can be done by your veterinarian, some shelters even offer low cost microchip clinics. Typically the microchip is inserted, via a needle, on the dog's back, between the shoulder blades. Once it has been inserted you can register your contact information to the microchip. This information is then store in an online database that can be easily accessed by shelters and other rescue groups. It is important to keep this information as up to date as possible, this can be done online or even with a phone call to the microchip company. It is also important to note, that while the microchip is more permeant than both a tag and a collar, in rare cases the microchip can migrate under the skin to another part of the body - while this causes no harm to your dog, it can make it harder to identify your dog if he or she should become lost. If your dog is already microchipped, it never hurts to have your veterinarian scan for the chip, to make sure everything is as it should be, when you go in for your dog's yearly check-up.
Some of the most common Microchip companies are:
Lost!
Even with the best care, and most careful precautions - dogs are still dogs and may become lost. There are things you can do that can help increase the likelihood of getting your dog returned.
They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - this can't more true when it comes to keeping your pet safe and sound!
Proper identification comes in many forms. While it's good to have at least one form of identification, having more than one never hurts. Many local pet stores carry a variety of collars, some even have tag engraving machines in store, for identification you can take with you right then and there!
Tags and Nameplates
Identification that is attached to the dog via a collar of some sort. Not the most permanent form of identification, as tags can fall off of collars, and the collars themselves can be removed from the dog. Important information to have on the tag includes:
- Your phone number - even an alternate, or second phone number if the tag is big enough
- Key phrases such as: "Reward", "Needs Meds", "has Allergies", "Special Diet", "I'm Deaf", etc.
In addition to purchasing tags in local pet stores, there are also a few nice hand made tags that can be found online:
Embroidered Collars
In addition to tags and nameplates, you can also purchase a collar with your phone number, and other information embroidered directly onto the collar itself. These are a bit more permanent than tags, since there is nothing to fall off of the collar, but they can still be removed relatively easily from your dog. Embroidered collars typically need to be special ordered, some of my favorite online stores selling embroidered collars include:
Microchipping
A Microchip is a small, smaller than a grain of rice, device that is implanted under your dog's skin. This is a very simple procedure that can be done by your veterinarian, some shelters even offer low cost microchip clinics. Typically the microchip is inserted, via a needle, on the dog's back, between the shoulder blades. Once it has been inserted you can register your contact information to the microchip. This information is then store in an online database that can be easily accessed by shelters and other rescue groups. It is important to keep this information as up to date as possible, this can be done online or even with a phone call to the microchip company. It is also important to note, that while the microchip is more permeant than both a tag and a collar, in rare cases the microchip can migrate under the skin to another part of the body - while this causes no harm to your dog, it can make it harder to identify your dog if he or she should become lost. If your dog is already microchipped, it never hurts to have your veterinarian scan for the chip, to make sure everything is as it should be, when you go in for your dog's yearly check-up.
Some of the most common Microchip companies are:
Lost!
Even with the best care, and most careful precautions - dogs are still dogs and may become lost. There are things you can do that can help increase the likelihood of getting your dog returned.
- Enlist as many people to your search as you can - many states have online groups dedicated solely on finding lost pets - Missouri Lost & Found Paws is one of these groups.
- Make phone calls to local veterinarians, animal control, and law enforcement to help get the word out
- Print up, and distribute fliers and posters - it is helpful if these are in color. Include a clear and recent photograph of your pet; all words should be typed, large and clear. Be sure to have information such as the dog's name, the word "Reward", a contact phone number so you can be reached, any important information such as "shy", "do not chase", etc. if these things apply to your dog.
They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - this can't more true when it comes to keeping your pet safe and sound!
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