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Are You Ready for National Pet ID Week?

We humans never go anywhere without our identification.  Neither should our pets. April 17-23 is National Pet ID Week.  The week is dedicated to raising awareness about pets having identification.  The American Humane Society estimates that 1 in 3 pets will go missing at some point in their lives.  As their caretakers, the best way to prevent our furry loved ones from getting lost is to keep identification tags on them at all times.  Unfortunately, a study by Preventative Veterinary Medicine revealed that only 33 percent of owners keep ID tags on their pets.  Fur Services Fur Pets is here with the information to help keep your pet safe.

Having physical ID tags and microchips can help your lost pet return home quickly.
Pet ID Tags and Microchips can help your lost pet return home quickly.

Identification Tag Basics

An identification tag should have some key information.  This will help get them back to you, in the event that they decide to make a run for it.  A pet’s identification tag should have their owner’s name and contact information, any health concerns, and the pet’s name.  There should also be a tag to let others know your furry friend has been vaccinated against rabies. Today identification tags can be purchased in a variety of styles.

Identification Chips for Pets

A newer form of pet identification is the microchip.  It is an RFID chip that is about the size of a grain of rice.  The chip is inserted under the skin with a hypodermic needle. This causes little pain.  The chip contains an identification number that is stored in a database. The database, not the chip, contains the owner’s contact information.  If someone finds your pet, they can scan for a microchip with a hand-held device. Owners must register their pet’s chip in order for this to work.  A pet with a microchip will be returned to their owner 52.2% of the time according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

cat getting scanned for a microchip
Veterinarian checking microchip of cat in vet clinic

It is best to have BOTH identification tags and a microchip.  A microchip does not replace a collar and tags. When people see a dog wearing tags, they know people are somewhere missing the pup.  Similarly, it is not enough just to have your dog wear tags. Collars can break. When it comes to your pet’s safety, more is better. It’s our job to take precautions and keep them home and safe.  Fur Services Fur Pets hopes you never have to deal with a missing pet.

If your pet goes missing, be sure to check out our “What to Do If Your Pet Goes Missing” blog for tips to help bring them home quickly!

Awareness and precaution make all the difference. Please continue to follow our blog for more great pet tips.