In a 2010 study conducted by the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), 80% of pet owners said that a pet ID tag was “extremely important.”  Yet, only 33% of surveyed pet owners reported that their current pet wears an ID tag all the time.

As part of National Pet Identification Week, we here at Campus Veterinary Clinic want to help you to properly identify your pet in the event that they turn up missing. Sadly, research shows that only 10-30% of lost dogs and barely 5% of lost cats are ever found, according to ASPCA.  By properly equipping your pet with the right identification, we can change this statistic and get our pets safely home!

In the past, pets have been identified in a variety of ways, including tags on collars, tattoos and microchipping.  We suggest that a mix of identification to increase the chances of your pet being found (i.e. an identification tag with a microchip).  Here are some ways to identify your pet:

Collar Tags
Tags are the best way to commmunicate that your pet has a home and a family who misses them. Tags should have up-to-date information on the owner’s name, address and phone number. If there is room, also put the name and number of the veterinarian.  The ID tag should be accompanied by the dog’s license tag, which tells whoever finds the dog that he has been vaccinated for rabies and is registered with the local government.

Unfortunately, collars can be lost so you’ll want to have a backup method of identification. If you don’t like ID tags, you can get collars that come with a plate to engrave your information.

Top Tag Pet ID 
The Top Tag Pet ID consists of a small 64MB flash drive that comes in a waterproof case and attaches to collars. The program on the flash drive is filled with easy-to-access information and photos. The program allows you to write, organize, store and retrieve all of your pet’s important care information. This tag system allows you pet to be identified if he is lost and also allow pet sitters and rescuers to know how to provide the best care for your pet.  Learn more about this tag on their website.

Microchip
The implementation of the microchip has gained popularity in recent years, due to the introduction of scanners that can pick up the chips’ signal.
The chip remains safely within the dog, though it may shift a little over time. When a scanner is passed over it, the chip gives a number, which is registered with the microchip company. The company maintains the owner’s contact information.

Many owners opt to have the microchip implanted while they are getting their pet neutered or spayed. Whatever you chose, be sure to also have visible identification for your pet.