An ID tag is the first line of defense when a
pet gets lost and leads to the quickest return home. Advantages of an ID tag are that it is readily
visible and easy to use. Having your contact information on the spot is the
quickest way for a lost pet to be returned home. This is especially true when
animals are close to home and found by a neighbor or in the local area. ID tags
make it easy for anyone who finds your pet to simply give you a call. However,
a collar can be removed or slip off and, obviously, the tag(s) will go with it.
The
advantage of a microchip is that it is an excellent method of permanent
identification. But it is not visible, so someone has to take the found pet to
a veterinary clinic or shelter to be scanned. Many people will try to help a
lost pet, but it’s harder to count on someone going that extra mile.
Regardless, a microchip is especially useful when pets have wandered a long way
from home, and it is the only verifiable means of identification in cases of
pet theft.
In
summary, an ID tag is easy to see and easy to use. ID tags make it easy for
anyone who finds your pet to simply give you a call. A microchip is a method of
permanent identification but requires scanning. ID tags and microchips used together
maximize the chances of finding a lost pet.
Remember: ID is only good if the information is
up-to-date! So if you get a new phone number or move, be sure to get a new tag.
If your pet has a microchip, be sure to update your info in the microchip
registry database.
