Tags on collar question

[addevo]

I volunteered at my local animal shelter for several years, and saw alot of stray animals come in. There are several factors to consider when deciding what to put on your dog's collar.

First, in most jurisdictions, it is required that pet owners keep their dogs vaccinated for rabies. If your dog bites someone, is bitten or attacked by another dog, or is off leash, lost or somehow gets picked up by animal control, the first thing everyone wants to know is whether they are vaccinated. Rabies tags are a way to help prove that. The tag sometimes contains a date, but more importantly, has a serial number and a phone number for the vet who issued it so that it's easy to check their health records. For alot of animals, it is the ONLY thing owners put on their collars, and so is invaluable in tracking down the owner of a stray. It also gives good Samaritans a comfort level that it is ok to handle your animal, that someone loves him enough to take care of him, and that they will be more likely to try to find his owner.

Next, every animal, even ones who NEVER go outside, should wear a tag with their address, including city and state, and phone number, including area code. Also, put both home and cell phone numbers on the tag.

I won't bore you with the crazy things that can and do happen, but here are a few:
1) Owner took their dog to some friends' vacation home over July 4th. Their dog got spooked by fireworks and dashed across the field, and hid in a barn where the barn's owner found her several hours later. If no tag, or only name and home phone number, it would have taken much longer time to reunite them.
2) People leave their pets with friends or relatives while they are out of town. The friend's kids, not accustomed to having a dog around, leave the gate open and the dog wanders off into an unfamiliar neighborhood.
3) A typically curious indoor/outdoor cat went into a delivery truck to inspect it's contents, the delivery guys didn't see her until she jumped out again, at their next delivery address, which was over 30 miles away.

In the city where I live requires all dogs and cats to be licensed, and that they must wear their license. Failure to do so can result in a fine.

Again, for those who say their dog is never out of their sight, that may be true, but why take a chance when the difference between losing your beloved baby and getting them back immediately is an investment of a few minutes and a very low cost? Tags are available on the internet for only a few bucks, often with free shipping.

And the final thing, is MICROCHIP. Collars can come off, people can steal your dog, but a microchip is proof positive. And make sure to keep your current address and phone numbers up to date with the company that issues the chip. I can't count the number of strays who were microchipped, but the contact information was out of date and therefore useless.

[Ellie May]

I don't even know where E's rabies tag is.

But yes, rabies tags should be attached to the dog at all times. It is the law ehre that if the dog is off owner property, it wears a tag. Not strictly enforced, obviously...

I'd also put two contact numbers on their ID tag. If one number happens to not work and there is no rabies tag/microchip and the dog bites, it probably will be euthanized for testing. So I'd be doing two phone numbers or a phone number and an address, etc.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by addevo

I volunteered at my local animal shelter for several years, and saw alot of stray animals come in. There are several factors to consider when deciding what to put on your dog's collar.

First, in most jurisdictions, it is required that pet owners keep their dogs vaccinated for rabies. If your dog bites someone, is bitten or attacked by another dog, or is off leash, lost or somehow gets picked up by animal control, the first thing everyone wants to know is whether they are vaccinated. Rabies tags are a way to help prove that. The tag sometimes contains a date, but more importantly, has a serial number and a phone number for the vet who issued it so that it's easy to check their health records. For alot of animals, it is the ONLY thing owners put on their collars, and so is invaluable in tracking down the owner of a stray. It also gives good Samaritans a comfort level that it is ok to handle your animal, that someone loves him enough to take care of him, and that they will be more likely to try to find his owner.

Next, every animal, even ones who NEVER go outside, should wear a tag with their address, including city and state, and phone number, including area code. Also, put both home and cell phone numbers on the tag.

I won't bore you with the crazy things that can and do happen, but here are a few:
1) Owner took their dog to some friends' vacation home over July 4th. Their dog got spooked by fireworks and dashed across the field, and hid in a barn where the barn's owner found her several hours later. If no tag, or only name and home phone number, it would have taken much longer time to reunite them.
2) People leave their pets with friends or relatives while they are out of town. The friend's kids, not accustomed to having a dog around, leave the gate open and the dog wanders off into an unfamiliar neighborhood.
3) A typically curious indoor/outdoor cat went into a delivery truck to inspect it's contents, the delivery guys didn't see her until she jumped out again, at their next delivery address, which was over 30 miles away.

In the city where I live requires all dogs and cats to be licensed, and that they must wear their license. Failure to do so can result in a fine.

Again, for those who say their dog is never out of their sight, that may be true, but why take a chance when the difference between losing your beloved baby and getting them back immediately is an investment of a few minutes and a very low cost? Tags are available on the internet for only a few bucks, often with free shipping.

And the final thing, is MICROCHIP. Collars can come off, people can steal your dog, but a microchip is proof positive. And make sure to keep your current address and phone numbers up to date with the company that issues the chip. I can't count the number of strays who were microchipped, but the contact information was out of date and therefore useless.

I don't put our address on Callie's name tag just her name and my cell number because it would require a much bigger tag to have the full address and number but you did post some great information

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I don't even know where E's rabies tag is.

But yes, rabies tags should be attached to the dog at all times. It is the law ehre that if the dog is off owner property, it wears a tag. Not strictly enforced, obviously...

I'd also put two contact numbers on their ID tag. If one number happens to not work and there is no rabies tag/microchip and the dog bites, it probably will be euthanized for testing. So I'd be doing two phone numbers or a phone number and an address, etc.

Now I am thinking I should get her a new tag and have two numbers on it instead of one I never thought about the number not working. That's also why I kinda wanted a furcode tag so I could put more info on it but I don't wanna have three tags on her collar that seems like a bit much to have rabies, regular tag, and then furcode tag.

[addevo]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

I don't put our address on Callie's name tag just her name and my cell number because it would require a much bigger tag to have the full address and number but you did post some great information

There are alot of places that let you engrave BOTH sides of the tag - phone numbers on one side, address on the other. That way you don't have to put an additional tag on.

Another story - We have a neighbor whose dog that "never gets out" escaped through the back gate when their summertime baby sitter (who isn't used to having a dog around) left the back gate open. The owners had lived there for less than a year. Their dog is an elderly Basset Hound that they just let in and out of the backyard, so many of us didn't even know they had a dog. She was wandering down the sidewalk when another neighbor found her. Her tag had only her name and a phone number. No one was home to answer the phone, and there was no address on the tag.

She was only 4 doors away from home.

The neighbor had already called animal control to come get the dog, when another neighbor happened by and recognized her. They put her in the appropriate back yard, and closed the gate securely. The babysitter was back within an hour. Thus, the neighbors saved the owners from being fined, having to pay a fee to get her back, saved the dog from the confusing experience of being "jailed" and the exposure to all of the possible contagions that exist at shelters.

So please, please, please put a tag with your address (including city and state) and several phone numbers on all of your animals.

[1Ieisha]

Yes, Max and Snow have their rabies tags on their collars.

[Britster]

Jackson's rabies tag is on my keychain. If we're out in public, i.e. a dog park, pet store, etc, I have it right there with me. It's ugly and dangly, I don't like dragging him down with too many tags. But I keep it with me at all times.

He has a tag (well, a few, I think I have an obsession problem) with his name and my cell phone number on it. We don't have a home phone and I am back and forth between houses so much that it'd be pointless to have an address on there. If he gets loose at my dads house, and my moms address is on it, that's not going to do much good considering they are 45 minutes apart from each other. Oh he is microchipped too.

The quickest and easiest thing would be for people to call my cell phone which is on me at all times. If my cell happens to be changed, I get a new tag always.

Oh and I'm pretty sure he is supposed to have a license but I've never done it. Oops. I've been meaning to do it. We aren't in a neighborhood, but in the "country" with 90 acres of farmland all around us. So there's never been anything enforced or whatever. All the farm dogs roam around the neighborhood with no tags on It's a different world....

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by addevo

There are alot of places that let you engrave BOTH sides of the tag - phone numbers on one side, address on the other. That way you don't have to put an additional tag on.

Another story - We have a neighbor whose dog that "never gets out" escaped through the back gate when their summertime baby sitter (who isn't used to having a dog around) left the back gate open. The owners had lived there for less than a year. Their dog is an elderly Basset Hound that they just let in and out of the backyard, so many of us didn't even know they had a dog. She was wandering down the sidewalk when another neighbor found her. Her tag had only her name and a phone number. No one was home to answer the phone, and there was no address on the tag.

She was only 4 doors away from home.

The neighbor had already called animal control to come get the dog, when another neighbor happened by and recognized her. They put her in the appropriate back yard, and closed the gate securely. The babysitter was back within an hour. Thus, the neighbors saved the owners from being fined, having to pay a fee to get her back, saved the dog from the confusing experience of being "jailed" and the exposure to all of the possible contagions that exist at shelters.

So please, please, please put a tag with your address (including city and state) and several phone numbers on all of your animals.

I have my cell phone number on her tag. I don't feel my address is necessary because my cell is on always. Also someone is always home with Callie unless we take her with us, she is never ever alone (as in at home alone) so if she was to slip out and who ever was home with her didn't know it they would be around to answer the phone if that was the number I put on her tag. I get where putting an address on a tag would be necessary for some but the tag I like that does not fade would not hold the address and I am thinking about putting a second number on there.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Now I am thinking I should get her a new tag and have two numbers on it instead of one I never thought about the number not working. That's also why I kinda wanted a furcode tag so I could put more info on it but I don't wanna have three tags on her collar that seems like a bit much to have rabies, regular tag, and then furcode tag.

Yes, Ry's rescue required us (as in, it's in the contract) to have a tag with two phone numbers. You never know when one won't work. He also wears his microchip tag, so technically there are three numbers on him.

The point of the rabies tag is easy ID for law enforcement if somebody gets bitten. This is important if the dog gets loose. So it should be on the dog. That said, we don't do that here. I'm too lazy to even register Ry. lol

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Yes, Ry's rescue required us (as in, it's in the contract) to have a tag with two phone numbers. You never know when one won't work. He also wears his microchip tag, so technically there are three numbers on him.

The point of the rabies tag is easy ID for law enforcement if somebody gets bitten. This is important if the dog gets loose. So it should be on the dog. That said, we don't do that here. I'm too lazy to even register Ry. lol

Thanks for bringing up the second number thing I really don't know that I would have ever thought about that.

[Bitsy]

I hate having tags on them all the time. Just sees it would be uncomfortable.

BUT, I know they need to wear at least one all the time for safety reasons. They are microchipped, but apparently that is not always enough.

I am going to order a breakaway collar from Peachbongi for each of mine. I will attach a tag that I already have that has both of mine and my husbands cell numbers on it. The rabies tags I keep on the leash when I am out with them.

On the back of the rabies tags I scratched their name and my cell number in as well.

[addevo]

OK, one last rant - an ID tag on your dog is not meant to be a cute accessory. Think of it as a lifeline that may mean the difference, literally, between life and death for your dog. And unending heartbreak for you. How would you feel if your dog somehow gets separated from you, and isn't wearing enough ID to tie her back to you? ID Tags can be unattractive, but providing enough information for someone to get your precious baby back to you far outweighs the "ick" factor.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by addevo

OK, one last rant - an ID tag on your dog is not meant to be a cute accessory. Think of it as a lifeline that may mean the difference, literally, between life and death for your dog. And unending heartbreak for you. How would you feel if your dog somehow gets separated from you, and isn't wearing enough ID to tie her back to you? ID Tags can be unattractive, but providing enough information for someone to get your precious baby back to you far outweighs the "ick" factor.

Id tags are not just cute accessories but they do make cute and attractive ones and just because it has important information on it doesn't mean it has to be ugly. If there is two numbers on her tag and then another number on her rabies tag I feel that they are going to get an answer at one of the phones and that it is enough.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Id tags are not just cute accessories but they do make cute and attractive ones and just because it has important information on it doesn't mean it has to be ugly. If there is two numbers on her tag and then another number on her rabies tag I feel that they are going to get an answer at one of the phones and that it is enough.

Exactly!

Lots of things are to keep our pups safe but happen to be attractive or stylish at the same time. Harnesses, collars, jackets, etc.

I could just go out and buy a plain ole jacket for Jackson for the winter to keep him warm. But I also like it to be stylish, so he gets one with a fur hood and a design that I like *shrugs* Nothing wrong with that.

And believe me, I am far from the fashion queen when it comes to myself or my dogs. We don't do clothes when they aren't necessary (except for holidays, etc), I don't do strollers, or doggy backpacks, etc, but I am just saying there's nothing wrong with being cute and functional at the same time.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Now I am thinking I should get her a new tag and have two numbers on it instead of one I never thought about the number not working. That's also why I kinda wanted a furcode tag so I could put more info on it but I don't wanna have three tags on her collar that seems like a bit much to have rabies, regular tag, and then furcode tag.

My dogs have tags slightly bigger than a nickle and I have my full name, address, phone number and an 800 # service all on the tag and it's very clear. Teddy's tag is the size of a quarter and has one additional line that says seizures needs meds in additional to all of the above. Rabies tags arent on the tag, and if they call the numbers the vet is connected to verify rabies status.