Dog tags....
 

This is perhaps a dumb question... but what information would you include on a dog tag? I've read places where it says not to put your name, contact info, others that say you should... Should I just put his name on it, or the name and number of my vet? Any thoughts? Does anyone know of any online sources for smaller dogtags? Seems all the ones I find are awfully big for a such a wee dog....

My dog tags have their name and my phone number..... and as far as my address goes - if anyone finds my dog and calls me -- the first information I'll give them is my address....unless, of course, I go and pick it up. (And - also from my phone number - anyone could find my address....)

And now that I'm thinking about it - their second set of tags also have my address on them.

My son's and daughter's dogs have their phone numbers and addresses on their tags. So do my two sister's....and my brother's.

This is fine with me. I can't see how it would be to anyone's advantage to find a dog with someone's address and phone number on the tag....it just means that that's where the dog lives....and where you can call if you think the dog is lost.

I'm sure millions of dogs are running around with their addresses and phone numbers on their tags. And - on the other side of the coin, unfortunately, a lot of dogs are running around with no tag at all.

Carol Jean

Kirby's just says:

Kirby
(my phone number)
Reward

He also has a rabies tag that has the vets number on it.

I ordered his from petsmart, its a small brass tag about 1" in diameter very nice quality:

http://www.petsmart.com/global/produ...N=2032897&Ne=2

I don't know why anyone would say not to put your contact info on it, how else would people get in touch with you? I HAVE heard that you shouldn't put the dog's name on the tag, in case they want to keep him, then they'll know his name. But I put his name on it anyway, I figure if anyone wants to keep him it won't matter if they know his name or not.

I just bought some on ebay. They are small, lightweight, reasonable and fast shipping. I ordered the pink heart and black dog bone. Check them out. I included name and phone.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN%3AIT&rd=1

:smileyfla

Oh, I just read SnowWa's post. By contact info did you mean your address? I guess I can see why people might not want to put their address on the tag, in case the person that finds him is a burglar or something, but that's not like say a luggage tag when people would see it on your bag in the airport and know that you're not going to be home for a while. I don't see how having your address on a dog tag put's you at any greater risk for burglary. Just my opinion.

Toby's tag has I'm lost on one side and my phone number on the other. I was advised not to put his name on the tag. Because if someone found him it would be easier for them to keep him if they knew his name.

Just a thought.

Toby and mom in Arizona

I think their name address and phone number is a good idea and REWARD 4 RETURN. What if someone picks up your dog two houses down from where you live. They could just knock on your door instead of going all the way home to call you (maybe they live on the other side of town and don't carry a cell phone). Not to mention that gives them more time to become attached to the dog.

I also put their name. I don't think just knowing a dog's name would make a person keep or return a dog, but it might make the dog more comfortable.

I wonder if you put microchipped if it might make a person think twice about keeping him. My malamute goes for a walk by herself every now and again, but she knows her way home. Her tag reads A.W.O.L. my address and my phone number and her name.

QUOTE: By contact info did you mean your address? I guess I can see why people might not want to put their address on the tag, in case the person that finds him is a burglar or something . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

This doesn't make sense. Burglar's don't need "dog tags" to find addresses to find houses to burglarize. In fact, this would be the worst way in the world to choose a house to buglarize....

All a burglar needs to find addresses is the phone book - (We have over 200,000 phone numbers and addresses in our phone book.....)

Burglars drive around and look at homes. They like to see houses and decide which ones might be the safest to try and break into. They also like to break into houses that look like they might have something worth stealing.....

The best way for anyone who finds a dog to get anything would be to return the dog and get the "reward."
----------

I don't have my address on my newest set of dog tags - because my dogs are small - and their tags are small.... I just have my dog's name and my phone number on them. This is enough information for anyone to contact me.

When I had larger tags - I had my address on them also.

Carol Jean

It doesn't make any sense to me either, thats just the only reason I could think of not to have an address on a tag, some people are overly cautious about that kind of thing.

Chester is microchipped and he also has a tag with phone number, cell number and address.

tags
 

This is a clip of an article I found concerning tags and identity maybe it will answer the question, this is from an animal services dept.I personally have chipped my dogs, the only thing I have to do is make sure my address is up to date on the database.It is not an expensive method if you find the right organization to do it, RSPCA here in the UK has a program for it..this is who I went through.


How not to lose your pet.

Even the most responsible pet owners can lose a pet due to unforeseen circumstances. Try to take every precaution to see that it is safely protected.

1. License: Dogs and cats with a current license tag attached to their collars are held at Animal Services Centers for a full ten days instead of the 3 full working days unlicensed strays are held. The owners are notified by telephone and letter. Keep the county informed of any address or telephone number changes after you have applied for your pet's license.

2. Identification Tag: Although many people are reluctant to assume a loose dog may be lost, a message such as "Help me, I'm lost" with your current telephone number and address on the tag will encourage someone to contact you rather than let it wander to starve, become ill, or get hit by a car.

3. Confinement: There is no better protection for your pet than a fenced yard or enclosed kennel area. Do not let your pet run loose. Loose animals have caused serious auto accidents, harassed/killed livestock and other confined animals, damaged property, and become neighborhood nuisances.

4. Obedience: Many local organizations offer low-cost training classes. A well-trained pet can be a joy for you as well as your neighbors. If you are interested in classes, one of the volunteers will be happy to give you the telephone numbers of organizations in your area.

5. Spay and Neuter: Decrease your animal's urge to wander to find a mate. Spaying and neutering eliminates or reduces the attraction of male animals to the female.

I got mine at Petsmart. They have a machine that engraves the tag while you wait. I put my dogs names on them and the phone #.

Great thoughts and suggestions everyone! I think I'll check out Petsmart so I dont have to pay/wait for shipping!