The first Saturday of April is designated as Every Day is Tag Day by the American Humane Association as a way to remind pet parents of the importance of tagging or microchipping their furry friends. Tragically, millions of pets are taken to shelters each year as strays or foundlings. Of these, only 15% of dogs and 2% of cats who don’t have identification are ever reunited with their parents.
The thought of a beloved pet being lost and in danger is disturbing to say the least, but there are ways to significantly increase the chances of a happy reunion if your furry friend ever goes missing. One of the most basic is a simple collar tag that’s imprinted with your contact information. These are available in many pet supply stores and can often be engraved while you wait. The only downside of ID tags is that they can be removed. If your pet were to get caught on an obstacle like a fence or bush and slip out of his collar, the tag wouldn’t help. Additionally, petnappers who steal pets and sell them to other people would simply discard the tag. The best possible identifier your pet can have is a microchip. These tiny devices (about the size of a grain of rice) are injected just beneath your pet’s skin in a process that is as quick and painless as a typical vaccine injection. The microchip has an indentifying number that’s exclusive to your pet which corresponds to a registry entry with your name and contact information. Microchips are read by devices available at most veterinary clinics, shelters and other pet advocates. Besides being impossible to lose, microchips last for about 25 years, which covers the lifespan of most pets.
No one ever wants to think about their furry friend being lost, but ID tags and, better yet, microchips, play an important role in helping lost pets get back into the homes where they are loved and cherished. Please ensure your pet pals are properly identified for their safety and your peace of mind.