Many people think of their pets as a member of the family. Losing a beloved pet even temporarily can be devastating. Many pet owners even buy their “furry children” Christmas gifts and cute little sweaters to keep them warm and make sure they have soft beds to sleep in.
If you own a cat or a dog, you know there is always that possibility it could escape somehow and get lost. The thought of such an unfortunate occurrence isn’t really foremost in your mind until it actually happens though.
If you have an outside dog that lives in a fenced backyard, it can always dig out from under the fence. On the other hand, if your pet is an indoor cat, it might slip outside when you open the door. In either scenario if your pet becomes lost and does not have a collar on with a pet ID attached, you may never see your furry friend again.
Because it’s your pet’s nature to be curious, it’s their curiosity that can cause them to stray and become lost. Therefore, pet ID tags are a must for identification. Fortunately, a pet tag is inexpensive and will help keep your pet in your life for many years. In fact, ninety percent of dogs or cats wearing an ID tag are returned safely to their owners.
Like many items produced for the marketplace today, several choices are also available in a personalized pet tag. There is a wide selection of shapes, colors, and sizes on the market. Tags range from the simple ID tag with basic information to a tag imprinted with a logo or the owner’s information.
Regardless of whether a tag is engraved on plastic or on some type of metal, such as aluminum, the tag should be easy to read as well as durable. When choosing a pet tag, these matters are extremely important considerations.
Types of Pet ID Tags
In the past, cat tags and dog tags were a plain, round engraved silver disk, but nowadays pet owners can choose from a variety of exciting options, for instance, a bright metallic colored bone-shaped or cat-shaped tag. Some pet ID tag companies will let you select your preferred font, which allows you to create a unique tag for your pet.
If you’re looking for something different from the old type silver tags, not only can you choose a fun shape and color, the tag can be made of a material other than metal. In addition to metal, pet identification tags come in materials such as plastic, nylon, rubber, and even heat shrinkable tags.
However, plastic tags tend to fade or if your pet likes chewing on the tag, it may become unreadable over time. On the other hand, metal tags that are engraved are typically easier to read and last longer than plastic tags. Of the metal tags, there are three main types, each with its own benefits.
- Aluminum – The wide selection of colors is the appeal in aluminum. Not only are colored tags great for showing contrast on the engraving but they are lightweight and offer the biggest selection of shapes.
- Brass – Although the choice of shapes is more limited than aluminum, brass is the traditional pet tag because they are strong, wear well, and a bold font looks better contrasted on brass.
- Stainless Steel – While shapes and sizes are limited, these tags are the most durable. Like brass, bold fonts are more readable.
Information to Include on Tag
Regardless of the material you choose, following is the information you should put on the tag.
- Pet’s Name – This will help whoever finds your pet comfort him when he is lost and can hear his own name.
- Phone Number – List your most frequently used phone number.
- Medical Information – Including medications may save your pet’s life so a veterinarian can give him his medication until you can be reached.
- Your Name and Address – This information is optional but can be helpful.
High Tech Pet ID Tags
Technology has also improved pet ID tags. A QR code pet ID tag is a tag that links to a website via a QR (“quick response”) code, which is a scannable 2D-dimensional bar code imprinted on a tag. This type of tag can get your pet home faster and safer than a traditional ID tag.
If you wish, you can still have your phone number engraved on it, but whoever finds your pet can also use any “smartphone” or computer to access your pet’s online profile that contains critical data you deem necessary. Many QR code pet ID services will also send you the GPS location of your pet.
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