One of the most important, yet most frequently over-looked, aspects of protecting your pet is identification.
A frightening number of dogs and cats enter the animal shelter system each year. In fact, the sheer volume alone
has forced legislation to shorten the required shelter holding time to as few as 36 hours before euthanasia. With this
in mind, you can see how easily your beloved pet could be destroyed if you don't take the appropriate measures to
clearly identify him so that he can be returned quickly should he become lost.
Traditional Identification Tags
Pet ID tags are the most reliable way to ensure your dog or cat makes it home safe and sound. Each tag displays your
animal's name, license number and your phone number. Working on the honor system, if your animal does become lost,
the idea is that the person who finds him or her will call to tell you their location and arrange a reunion.
Microchips
A more modern version of traditional identification, microchips are implanted under the skin. The chip contains the
same information as a regular tag and is read using a specialized scanner. Collars and pet ID tags should still be used
for those animals that are 'chipped'. A collar and tag instantly marks an animal as "owned", so that he's not mistaken
for a stray if he ever finds his way to a shelter. One of the drawbacks to microchips is that identification of your pet
can only be made using the scanner designed to read the chip that is implanted—not all shelters carry all the different
types of scanners. In addition, a microchip may require one or two additional visits to the vet every year to make sure the
chip is still positioned correctly and functioning properly.
Tattooing
Although you'll never have to worry about a lost tag or having a microchip shift out of place, tattooing is an invasive and
unpleasant method of tagging. The biggest problem is that it's impossible to update your contact information when
changes are made without significant discomfort to the animal.
As with microchips, maintaining traditional forms of identification for additional protection is a good idea.
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