A collar and ID tag are your first line of defense against losing your pet. They are the universal symbol that your pet has a home and family. The person who finds your pet might not even be aware of the other forms of ID like microchips or tattoos. Therefore, your pet should always be wearing a collar with ID whenever it’s safe to do so. ID tags are relatively inexpensive and can be obtained at pet stores and even online.

Space on an ID tag is usually limited to 2-4 lines of text, so choose your information carefully! Some key items to consider include: your dog’s name, your phone number(s) with area code, and your address.

Collars can fall off and tags can break, leaving your pet without ID. That’s why they should have permanent backup identification as well. A microchip is a fantastic option that typically costs between $25 and $50 including the one-time registration fee. Microchips are quite small, about the size of a grain of rice, and are implanted between your pet’s shoulder blades. The procedure is much like a vaccine injection – quick and almost painless. Once the chip is in place, your pet has a lifelong and internationally recognized method of identification!

There are GPS smart collars that allow you to track your pet’s location with an app on your phone, tags with QR codes that can be scanned with a cellphone camera, and even personalized collars with important information engraved. 

Whatever form of ID you choose, ensure that your pet is safe and secure this holiday weekend!