The Pet Sit Blog

Does your pet have proper identification?

April 17, 2009

Posted in: Uncategorized

Did you know that The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) estimates 6-8 million animals enter shelters each year?  And of those, only about 30 percent of dogs and less than 5 percent of cats are reunited with their owners?

If the unthinkable happens and your pet ever becomes lost, make sure that your pet can be identified.

The good news is there are several different identification options for pets.

Collars and Tags – Outfit your pet with a collar and tags that include your pet’s name, your name, contact information, your veterinarian’s contact information and rabies vaccination information.  Be sure to keep the collar on at all times. Consider adding your pet sitter’s name as a secondary contact.

Microchip Identification System – This option involves implanting a capsule under your pet’s skin.  If lost, your pet’s microchip can be scanned for relevant information that you provide to one of the registering agencies.

Tattoo Identification System – This is a permanent identification system that involves marking a code on your pet’s skin.  The person who finds your pet can then call whichever registry is associated with the tattoo to find the owner’s contact information.

Whichever method you choose, please make sure your pet can be identified to increase the chances of a happy reunion.

Is your pet tattooed or micro-chipped?  Do you keep a recent picture of your pet on hand?  What precautions have you taken to ensure your pet can be identified if lost?  Let us know in the comments section below.