Buying a Pet ID tag is like buying insurance – you do so with
the devout wish that you’re never going to need it. The
“possible cost” of not having a pet ID tag is more expensive
than the “actual cost” of buying the pet tag itself.
The
type of pet identification tag that you buy is important, so
take 5 minutes or so to think it through. Impulsively choosing a
collar tag because it’s cheap or cute often proves to be unwise,
long-term.
Consider the following before purchasing any
pet id tag:
1.What is the level of risk to your pet?
Lost
pets are certainly common – we’ve all seen “Lost Dog!” signs
tacked around town, or dead pets lying by the side of the road.
If your pet is a master at escaping the fence, or a breed of dog
that cannot resist following a scent, or a young pet that’s full
of energy, or a new pet that isn’t properly trained, the risk of
a lost pet is high.
But losing your pet isn’t the only
risk.
Some pets are stolen. A pet thief may snatch Fifi
or Fido in hopes of getting a reward for its return, or to use
in dog fights (even small or gentle dogs are susceptible – they
can be used as “bait”), or for use in cult rituals.
And
what is the risk to your pet if something happens to you, its
owner?
If you’re a senior adult with a pet, particularly
if you live alone or are in ill health, there’s a good chance
that at some point someone else will need to care for your furry
friend, perhaps with little notice. And anyone can be struck by
tragedy or disaster which leaves you unable to care for your
companion.
In this instance, will your pet’s new or
temporary caregiver know that Rover hates cats, or that Fluffy
needs medication, or even whether or not Max is housetrained? A
pet ID tag that contains more than your name and phone number
would be extremely helpful.
2.What level of risk are you
comfortable with?
Some pets are simply more important to
their owners, and the risk of losing that particular animal
warrants a specific, more expensive type of pet ID tag. Risk is
proportionate to value.
Note that there is more than one
way to assess the value of your pet. It may be monetary (a rare
purebred dog) or functional (a guide dog or herding dog).
But for most pet owners, the emotional attachment they have to a
particular pet determines its value. For many people, cats or
dogs are family members, dearly loved and impossible to replace.
3.Based on your answers to the two previous questions, what do
you need in a pet ID tag?
Pet ID tags come in varying shapes,
sizes and materials and hold varying amounts of information.
Some contain logos or artwork, too. Most pet ID tags are
designed to be hung from a collar.
At a bare minimum, a
pet ID tag should contain the name, address and phone number of
the pet owner in a durable, legible format. Plastic tags are
lightweight but easily chewed. Stainless steel tags are durable
and don’t rust or fade. These traditional types of tags can
purchased from any veterinarian or pet store. They’re
inexpensive but the amount of information they hold is limited
to the size of the tag.
Fortunately, you have many more
options in pet tags these days, such as microchipping,
tattooing, digital display tags, pet registry web sites and
voice recorded pet id tags.
One of the newest entries in
the pet identification market is the high-tech USB drive that
hangs from your pet’s collar (or is attached to their cage) and
which holds 64MB of data (including complete medical and diet
information). The tiny USB drive is encased in a sturdy plastic
case and can be plugged into any computer, where it is easily
updated and easy to print sections for sharing with your vet or
pet sitter.
No matter what pet ID tag you choose, making
sure your pet wears some type of pet identification tag brings
peace of mind that far outweighs its costs.
About the Author:
D. Marie Ratliff helps people choose, start and market a wide
variety of pet businesses. A comparison chart and purchasing
information for
pet id tags is located at
Pet Business Central
