Statistics show that 1 in 3 pets will get lost at some point in their lifetime. Luckily, according to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), 85% of lost pets are returned to their owners. A credit to the success with many lost pets returned to their owners is the proper identification of the pet. Most of you may be thinking, “my pet rarely leaves the house/yard,” “my pet is an indoor pet,” and therefore, they do not need to wear any type of identification. While your pet may stay close to you at home, consider different “what if” scenarios. No one really plans on losing their pet.
Different Scenarios to Consider…
- What if your spouse or the kids accidentally leaves the door open?
- What if your pet decides to chase after another animal, and gets away from you?
- What if a repairman leaves your fence open and does not tell you?
- What if your pet somehow gets out of your vehicle while you are doing errands around town?
- What if you suddenly must evacuate your house with only minutes to spare?
All the above scenarios are common reasons why our pets can get separated from us. Situations like these are reasons why it is always important to have identification on your pet. Let’s review some different possibilities of identification for your pet to increase their chances of being returned to you if they were to get lost.
Traditional ID Tags, With A New Twist…
Rather than just the standard ID tag hanging from your pet’s collar, let’s check out some new and innovative ideas for your pet’s ID tag.
The Driver’s License Pet ID Tag
This ID tag is your pet’ s own personal driver’s license! You can customize it for the state you live in, and add your pets’ name and contact information, as well as their picture. When you order this cute tag, you get one tag the size of your own driver’s license. You also get 3 smaller keychain tags to put on your pet’s collar and any other belongings such as a leash, harness, or overnight bag. This ID tag is backed by a lifetime guarantee against any damages. For more info, check out mypetdmv.com.
The Silidog Silent Pet ID Tag
If you are looking for an ID tag for your pet that doesn’t jingle you awake when your pet is scratching in the middle of the night, check out Silidog silent Pet ID tags. These tags are made from silicone and are quite durable! They glow in the dark and come in many different colors and designs. Silidog also states that the writing on the tag never fades. Essentially, your pet will have an ID tag that you will not have to replace for a long time. For more information, check out www.silidog.com.
The “Pet ID” tag
The Pet ID tag is a little different than traditional ID tags. Instead of having a tag hang off your pet’s collar, this “tag” is an ID plate. The plate is attached to bands that are flexible and slide on any type of collar easily and will keep the plate fastened firmly to the collar. This is an excellent, silent solution to a traditional ID tag. The engraving on the tag has a lifetime guarantee, and the tag itself is made from stainless steel. Not only is Pet ID quieter than standard ID tags, but it is also safer for your pet. Without any tags hanging from your pet’s collar, there is less of a chance of your pet’s collar getting tangled in their kennel or a fence. For more information on the Pet ID, check out www.roadID.com.
For The Tech Lovers…
Smart Pet ID Tag with a QR Code
If you prefer an ID tag that caters to the smartphone lovers, check out this Dynotag pet ID tag. This ID tag is made from steel and is coated with polymer material to make it durable. On the back of the tag is a QR code that you can scan with your phone, and it will have an exclusive web address for that ID tag. Once you go online to activate the tag, you will be prompted to create a login and enter your contact information. Other convenient features include:
- You have the option to enter any additional information you would like to have available for someone who may find your lost pet.
- Uploading your pet’s medical records to the tag and password-protect specific files.
- Change your pet’s information at any time by logging into your online account.
A neat feature about the Dynotag is if someone scans the QR code on the tag, you will be immediately sent a notification that someone has viewed the tag, and the GPS whereabouts of the tag at that time. There are no subscription fees for online services. This tag also does not need any power source to work. For more information, on the Dynotag, check out www.dynotag.com.
Dynotag is not the only ID tag with the QR technology. Many other companies make ID tags for your pets, which also offer this feature. Some companies even have a phone number on your pet’s ID tag, just in case someone that finds your pet does not have a smartphone to scan the QR code or access to the internet.
GPS Enabled Pet Trackers?
New to the pet accessory world are GPS enabled pet trackers. Usually, you will have a device that slips on your pet’s collar and tracks where they are, whenever you want to find out. This is an excellent solution if you have a pet that likes to wander or break free often.
Pawscout Pet ID Tag
This ID tag comes with Bluetooth technology to track your pet if they were to get lost. You can set a virtual “pet leash” boundary on a map that will inform you if your pet goes outside of the area you set. You will get a text message indicating your pet is outside their area and GPS coordinates of where they are. Pawscout can also monitor your pet’s activity levels. Additionally, you can choose to share important medical information about your pet on their digital profile, in case your pet is found by someone other than you.
The Pawscout Id tag does require a Bluetooth connection to keep tracking your pet. However, anyone in the Pawscout network will get notifications that your pet is lost. Your pet’s tag will connect with anyone in the system that has the Pawscout app on their phone, which will then update you on your pet’s location. For more information on the Pawscout Pet ID tag, check out www.pawscout.com.
The Whistle Pet GPS and Activity/Health Monitor
The whistle is a great little tracking device you can attach to your pet’s collar. This device will track your pet via GPS and a cellular network for the utmost accuracy. Once you activate the device, you will go online and set up your pet’s “home zone” boundary via a map. Any time your pet travels outside their “home zone,” you will get a text message indicating they are outside of their zone. You will also receive GPS coordinates of where your pet is currently at. When you click on the coordinates, you can even get driving directions to the location.
In addition to location tracking, this device is also an activity tracker and can tell you how active your pet is, even down to how often they are licking and scratching. Whistle has an app to monitor your pet’s activities and can provide pet owners with valuable health information such as recommended daily activity levels and nutritional needs based on your pet’s age and breed. The Whistle is one of the most advanced GPS pet trackers on the market right now. However, it does have some quirks. As mentioned, the GPS features of the Whistle operate via a cellular network, therefore the GPS tracking will not work if your pet is outside of a cellular service area.
There are numerous other GPS pet trackers available, depending on the features you prefer to have. Pet GPS trackers are a new trend and have been responsible for quickly reuniting pets with their owners.
Microchips
While a microchip is not a visible form of pet identification, it has been responsible for getting millions of lost pets back to their owners. A microchip is a permanent method of identification for your pet. It is an electronic chip the size of a grain of rice, which is implanted between the shoulder blades of your pet. Once implanted, the microchip can be scanned with a special scanner, and it will provide an identification number for your pet. The identification number can then be looked up in the microchip database. The database will have the pet’s name and identifying features, as well as contact information for the pet’s owner. A lot of people think that a microchip is a GPS for your pet. However, this is incorrect. A microchip does not have the technology to act as a GPS.
One important thing to remember with microchips is to keep the pet owner’s contact information current. Some lost pets come to shelters with microchips; however, the owner’s information (such as phone number or address) is not up to date. Unfortunately, the shelter does not have a way of reaching out to the pet owner. Another thing to remember is for a pet to be identified, the person that has found the pet will need to take them to a shelter or a veterinarian to get the microchip scanned. The pet owner can call the microchip company to report a pet as lost. That way, if that pet is scanned for a microchip, they will be registered as a lost pet in the database. Despite these small inconveniences, we still believe that having your pet microchipped can significantly increase the odds of your lost pet being returned to you.
Better Safe Than Sorry
With any form of identification for your pet, they will never be 100% guaranteed to be returned to you if they get lost. Collars can break or slip off if your pet is out wandering around and gets tangled in something. Or, someone that has found your pet may decide to keep them rather than actively try to return them to you. Whether it is a collar/harness with an ID tag, a smart ID tag, or a microchip, having proper identification on your pet will significantly increase the odds of getting them home to you.
We challenge every one of you to make sure that you have at least some form of identification that stays on your pet as much as possible. With all the new ideas in pet accessories, you have numerous possibilities to choose from!