National Pet ID Week - April 18 - 24 by Leslie Miller, Veterinary Technician at Fenway Bark

In celebration of National Pet Id Week (April 18 – 24th) we’ve compiled a list of ways your pet can be identified, should he/she become lost.

ID Tags –

Your pet should always wear a collar with a tag that has his/her name, address and phone number. You can get personalized ID tags made at your local pet supply store or there are many options online.

Red Dingo provides high quality tags for a decent price and ships them to your door! 

Fenway Bark is a proud supplier of Red Dingo tags.  Come in and order your custom tag for your pet!

Rabies Tags –

When your dog is vaccinated for Rabies, your vet will provide you with a tag that has a unique number on it, as well as the Vet’s address and phone number. This is another way your pet can be identified should he become lost.

Dog Licenses –

Most Cities require dog owners to purchase a license for their dog. (Proof of current rabies vaccine is required.) You will be given a tag with a unique number on it. Should your dog become lost, the finder could call City Hall of the town that the license was issued in and find out the contact information of the owner.

Check your town’s website for more information on dog licensing in your area.

Custom Collars / Leashes –

There are many places out there that sell collars and leashes with your pets name and your phone number embroidered on them.

Lucky Pet and LL Bean offer options as well as the vetted suppliers for Fenway Bark.

GPS collars –

There are a few products that have come on the market that utilize GPS technology to pinpoint your dog’s location. However, they too can be easily removed and are pretty expensive.

Garmin Astro DC 40 Collar:
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=8576&ra=true

Spotlight GPS Pet Locator:
http://www.spotlightgps.com

Zoombak GPS Locator:
http://www.zoombak.com/products/pet/


Microchipping -

While fancy tags and collars are nice, they can slip off or be removed by thieves. Microchips are the size of a grain of rice and are inserted via syringe between your pet’s shoulder blades, just under the skin. While the needle is slightly larger than those used for vaccines, the procedure does not require any anesthesia and causes minimal discomfort for your pet.

Once implanted, the microchip can be read by universal scanners at vet’s offices, shelters, animal control, etc. Each chip has a unique number that identifies your pet. Once the number is found they call the microchip company to get the contact information* for the owner. The microchip companies also provide a tag for your pet’s collar with the microchip number printed on it.

*PLEASE NOTE: It’s really important to keep your contact information up-to-date when you move or change phone numbers.

Microchipping is very affordable – at approximately $35 - $50. Some pet stores, shelters and even vet offices, have low cost microchipping clinics. It’s a small price to pay to increase the chances that your loved one will be returned to you if lost or stolen!


Home Again Microchips:
http://public.homeagain.com/

Avid Microchips:
http://www.avidid.com/