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What should I put on my pet ID tag - surprising Do’s and Don'ts you never knew before!
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Description: A complete guide about what to write on pet tags to get them back in case you lost them. The UK law bounds every dog owner to put their contact number, house number/ postal code and their family surname on dog ID tag. But for the sake of additional care, you can add more helpful information such as the dog’s medical history and personality traits on their tags. Another important fact is that even dogs with a microchip need to be tagged to avoid any in inconvenience the future.
Keywords: Dog ID tags, pet tags, finding my dog, lost pets, ID tags, dog care laws, lost a dog.
Contents
ARTICLE
EVEN MICROCHIPPED DOGS NEED TO BE TAGGED
WHAT INFO SHOULD BE ENGRAVED ON MY PET’S ID TAG?
1) House name/number
2) Contact Numbers
3) Name
OTHER INFORMATION (OPTIONAL)
Medical history
Additional phone numbers
Microchipping information
Other traits and habits
A personal message
DON’TS
Never put your dog’s name on the identification tag
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ARTICLE
People who’ve once lost their beloved pup know the importance of Pet ID Tags which not only serves for identification purpose but also makes your fur child look more adorable. Some believe that the technology can help in case if their beloved dog or cat gets lost but even the microchips can’t work sometimes and cannot be considered as a durable solution. That’s why the old-school method is still considered as functional and effective. Yes, we are talking about pet identification tags. If you still think that a microchip is enough for your pup’s protection, think twice! And here is the reason why?
EVEN MICROCHIPPED DOGS NEED TO BE TAGGED
Though none of us can imagine losing our pet but think for a second if that happens, and your pet is only microchipped and not having an ID tag, what are the chances that the person who finds them will look for the microchip? Of course, he will not be having a chip scanner in hands to do that immediately, and the first thing he will do is to look for an identification tag or collar. That’s the importance of tags. We are not against the technology, but the researches show that the tags and chips collectively increase the probability of getting your lost furry family member back at home!
WHAT INFO SHOULD BE ENGRAVED ON MY PET’S ID TAG?
This article will highlight the essential information that needs to be engraved over dog ID Tag, but the same set of rules are equally useful for cats as well. But the current UK laws mainly focus on dog tags, and we will continue our discussion in the same context.
We’ve already discussed that why having a tag is so important for your dog, but there are some legal acts as well. If you are a dog parent or cat parent, you need to tag them as law forces you to do so. The UK Control of Dog act 1992 was made for the protection and safety of pets. According to this law, a dog owner must provide his dog with an ID tag engraved with all the essential information which could be useful in case the dog gets lost. So, you need to put the following information on the tag:
1) House name / number
The UK law bounds every dog owner to put the house name, number or postal code on their dog collar and the dog should wear that whenever he is away from home. And in case you lose your puppy anywhere near home, the neighbourhood can help to get it back to you without any significant cost. Also, don’t forget to update the house address in case you move to a new house otherwise the old, useless house address will not help in case of any such emergency.
2) Contact Numbers
By putting your cell or telephone number on dog ID tag, is the shortest possible way to get informed and contacted in an event a stranger finds your lost pet. But please make sure that the number you provided is up-to-date and reachable. And if you work in an environment where you are not contactable all the time, it’s a good idea to provide the number of a close family member or friend who may inform you immediately when things go wrong.
3) Name
Engraving the dog’s name on ID tag is not necessary, but you need to add your family surname according to the Dog Control Act 1992. It will make the whole process easy because the person who finds the lost pet first call you at the number provided on the tag and it would be easy for him to communicate and tell you about the whole situation accurately. Also, its entirely a matter of your choice that whether you want to add the surname only or your complete name because some people don’t want to share that much private information with strangers.
OTHER INFORMATION (OPTIONAL)
The more is always better especially when your pooch is expert at escaping. Apart from government legislation, we can put a lot of additional information if there is some room available on the tag or else multiple tags can be used which will also make your fur buddy look charming.
Medical history
Is your puppy sick or need daily medication? Does he have some medical issues or allergies that need to be addressed? It is always a smart idea to put all that information on his tag because it can save their life in emergency situations.
I was once advised by a vet that I should write on my dog ID that he is sick (even if he is not!). According to the vet, this sentence can be a real game changer and reduces to chances of dog theft or other similar activities because no one wants to keep a sick dog and they will try to return that to the real owner in shortest possible time. These are the views of a vet that how to prevent dog theft.
Additional phone numbers
Adding multiple phone numbers is a great idea because sometimes a single cell number is not enough. There is no doubt that people want to help, but very few will board your lost pup when the only contact number you provided is not contactable right away. It increases the chances that your little puppy will be left to roam on the streets once again.
That’s why few more backup numbers can change the whole situation towards your favour.
Microchipping information
Most dogs are not smart enough to find a way back themselves. That is why more and more work is being done on dog finding technology, and there is significant improvement every day. Several apps and companies also provide such service because losing a dog feels like we lost a child, a part of the family. Microchipping is another similar technique which helps to track back your loved one. Not all dogs like to wear the collar tag all the time, and they are tagged when going out on a walk or shopping, but if they escape experts and loves to play outside, you can expect them to escape if the door was left open. In that case, a scared puppy not wearing any identification tag can only be helped if he is microchipped. So, if you have not provided him with a chip, you should need to do that ASAP, and it will work best along with a tag saying, “I’m microchipped”. You can add an extra layer of protection by writing the name and contact info of the microchipping company. It will help the finder to get them to the vet for scanning. A microchip also reduces dog theft as the thief will know that the animal can be tracked.
Other traits and habits
Dogs may also like and dislike certain things the same as humans. Some may show aggressive behaviour towards cats or don’t want to hang around with kids. All such personality traits are pretty normal, and there is nothing to worry about. But writing your buddy’s personality quirks on their tags can help the finder to be careful regarding certain things.
Some examples can be:
• Don’t pet me at the back,
• I love toys but not kids,
• I am allergic to beef,
• Don’t like strangers etc.
A personal message
Last but not least, writing down a small personal message to the guy who finds your lost pet can be a great way to convince them to take extra care of them and to “do the right thing” by contacting you. Such message will also tell them that how much you love your big sweetie that you can’t afford to lose them at any cost. An example of such a message can be:
“Hello, can you please do me a favour, I can’t find a way back home, and my family would be troubled. I love them too. Please call my people for me.”
All this extra info can be engraved on multiple tags, and you can easily put them on your furry baby to ensure his safety. If you think that lots of tags would be tangled and create a mess, you can avoid this situation by making the right choice of material such as wood which will also look super cool.
DON’TS
We know that nothing is more important for you than getting the lost family member back but there are some factors which can make their return difficult or impossible in some cases. Writing their name on ID tag is one of them. Moreover, don’t get too far in the love of your pet that it may harm your own security by providing your complete home address and other credentials which can be useful for scammers.
Never put your dog’s name on the identification tag.
Although it’s charming because he would be able to tell others about his identity, but this act can help dog thieves to keep and resell them easily. The buyer will trust because the dog will show response upon calling by his name. It is especially the case with friendlier dogs. That’s why it is always recommended not to put your pet’s name on their tags to avoid possible chances of dog theft.
Let’s hope your pet will never get lost, but that can happen. So, you need to be prepared for the unforeseen future.
