Sometimes dogs get lost. They get scared, they are curious, some just love to run and roam. However it happens, it can be an anxious time for the owner. That is why it is important to make sure your pet has identification – it could mean the difference between losing your pet or having him home safe. Here are a few ways to ID your pet.
- Collars and tags
These are the most basic and easiest way to provide identification for your dog. The tags or collars can be either etched or printed. They can be bought from a variety of stores or online. And you can put several lines of text on many of the tags, so you can personalize your dog’s ID. Personalizing the tags also gives a quick and easy way for someone to identify your dog and contact you.
- Dog Licenses
In many places, dog licenses are required by law, so you need to get one no matter what. But licenses are effective because they enable local municipalities to have a record of your pet’s home should he or she get lost. Licenses are generally valid for one year, but you can also get a lifetime license. There is a fee.
To apply for the one-year license, you fill out a short application form about yourself and your dog. This information will be kept on file at the local government office. You are then issued a metal tag with a number that is valid for one year. The tag goes on your pet’s collar.
In some states, you can also get a lifetime license, which you won’t have to get renewed each year. The procedure to get the license is the same as a one-year tag – you fill out an application form and receive an ID number. With this license, however, the ID number is tattooed on the dog’s inner leg by a vet.
Another option is to put the license number on a microchip, which is then attached to the dog.
- Microchip
This is a type of ID that more people are using than ever before. It is a way of attaching permanent identification on your dog. The procedure is a simple one. A veterinarian or kennel owner injects the microchip under the surface of the animal’s skin between the shoulder blades. The microchip itself is tiny, about the size of a grain of rice.
It only takes a few seconds to do, and, for the dog, it is just like getting a shot at the vet’s. The nice thing about the microchip is that it is a permanent identification. It will last your pet’s entire lifetime. In order to access the information on the chip, a person would pass a microchip scanner over the dog’s shoulder blades. The chip sends a low radio frequency that enables the scanner to read the ID code and identify the dog.
Have you found what a great place to board your dog HHHHHBarney’s Ranch can be? We offer day- and overnight-boarding services and your dog has the chance to run for as long as he wants in our 4,000-square-foot dog run. Give us a call at (469) 273-1661 for more information.