The Importance of Properly Identifying Your Pet

vcadmin | April 16, 2019

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National Pet ID Week is April 14

Fluffy and Fido are more than just your pets, they are members of your family. The thought that your pet may become lost is unimaginable. Yet, it happens more often than you might think. It is estimated that 1 out of 3 pets will become separated from their owners at some point. Hopefully, your pet never becomes the 1 in 3, but you should take precautions in the event that the unthinkable happens. The best way to ensure the safe recovery and return of your dog or cat is proper identification.

Why Should You ID Your Pet?

Pet identification is one of the most important ways you can protect your pet. Should you ID your pet, even if he or she is an indoor cat or an indoor dog who only goes out on a leash? Yes, yes, yes! Every single pet should have some type of identification. Even indoor dogs and cats are prone to escaping under the right circumstances. A door accidentally left open, a pet notorious for slipping past someone coming in the door, or even Fido slipping his collar on a walk are all very common occurrences that lead to pets not being able to find their way home.

Different Types of Pet Identification

Collar Tags

Collar tags are the most widely recognized form of identification for both cats and dogs. Have your pet’s tag engraved with his or her name, your name, and phone number at the very least. Besides being able to quickly make contact with the owner, a collar with both a collar tag and a rabies tag, instantly lets people know that Fluffy or Fido belongs to someone, has a family, and is properly vaccinated.

Microchipping

Microchipping as a form of identification is becoming more and more popular among pet owners. The microchip is inserted just underneath the skin and contains all sorts of information including the pet’s name, age, veterinarian, owner’s name, address, and phone number. The average person does not have a scanner that can read microchips. However, most people will take a cat and dog they find to a veterinarian’s office and let them scan the pet for free. From there, the pet will be held safely until the owner can be reached.

Each type of identification has both pros and cons. Both dogs and cats are notorious for slipping collars or they can be removed if your pet is stolen. The average person will not be able to scan your pet for a microchip. The best approach is to combine a collar tag with a microchip.

Protect Your Four-Legged Family Members

Too many pets each year are sadly separated from their families and never reunited. National pet ID week is April 14-20. Protect your furry best friend by ensuring he or she has proper identification and help reduce the number of pets who are lost each year and never recovered due to lack of identification.