As a nation of pet lovers we send Birthday and Celebration cards to our pets, provide them with presents, extras and cover their every need. No expense is spared. We thought this impression should be put to the test, by extracting a sample of our pet database, a fair mix between dogs and cats. We know through talking to our members that losing a pet is a massively traumatic experience and by and large we never contemplate it until it happens to you.
It is a little known law but dogs in public areas must have a form of identification on them, usually a tag, but in your home or garden this is not required, however, there is no such requirement for cats. But if they go astray or get lost, how can your pet have the best chance of being found and returned to you safely. Well this can be provided and, when you consider what is spent on pets weekly, be it food, toys, health insurance, etc, at a very, very little cost considering the anguish they could prevent. Tag, microchip, tattoo or tracker, all work to ensure your pet's safety to the highest degree possible but the results of our sample database search was interesting in what it revealed our owners considered the best protection for their pets.
The safest protection our survey gave of giving their pet the best chance of a speedy return is by having a tag and microchip fitted, - 40% of pet owners on our database have had these fitted.
2. The second highest percentage had their pets fitted with a tag - 21%
And in third place, having them chipped or tattooed - 13%
A surprising high percentage gave their pet no help of a speedy return by having neither a tag or a chip fitted, bearing in mind the low cost to provide such safety - 26%
These results have been taken from our database, (please bear in mind these people have registered their pets with us, in the main, either because their pet had gone missing or to have them covered under the safety of our tag system), produces results with a more "best case scenario" outlook.
Tags - From the results above it is evident that people mostly have a tag fitted and from shows we have attended they come with various information engraved, phone numbers, mobile numbers and home addresses all available - Some pets having numerous tags attached. From shows we have attended they are available in numerous formats with information engraved from home numbers, mobile numbers and home addresses being attached to the pet - and some pets having numerous tags attached!
With the correct tag only one is required - with no security worries of having your own details on show. These tags cost no more than having your details engraved at the a local store onto your preferred tag. The correct pet Reunification ID tag system will allow you to register more than one contact point which can ensure any finder of the missing pet getting in touch with their owner quickly. Contact details can be updated, changed, etc anytime by the member.
Microchip - So easy to have one fitted by your local vet - and for a one off cost of a less than a monthly food bill - the pet has protection for life. Vets, Wardens and Animal Homes have access to a Microchip reader and from there to the pet owner, so simple, just remember to update your details on the chip database for any changes.
Tattoos - This provides both a visual, like a tag, and lifelong cover, like a microchip, but is not so well taken up by pet lovers. It may be the method of tattooing a unique ID onto the pet or perhaps because the tattoo can sometimes become partially covered by hair that results in a low "take up" of this method but it can provide good protection.
Trackers - They will become more popular as people take up the technology that is available to enable trackers to be used and include network cover, battery life and the size of the Tracker being reduced, but as of today they are not widely used.
Advice: All have their own particular benefits but for a tried, tested and value for money system the Tag + Microchip combination keeps your pet as safe as any protection. A visual - the Tag, so any person finding your pet can, without going to a Vet, Warden or the likes have the ability to contact you, if the tag is missing or not used and the pet is taken into a Vets etc, then the Microchip will be scanned and the owner contacted. So if you have one or none it is well worth considering making that small investment in your pet's safety and you can as the owner, have peace of mind.
It is a little known law but dogs in public areas must have a form of identification on them, usually a tag, but in your home or garden this is not required, however, there is no such requirement for cats. But if they go astray or get lost, how can your pet have the best chance of being found and returned to you safely. Well this can be provided and, when you consider what is spent on pets weekly, be it food, toys, health insurance, etc, at a very, very little cost considering the anguish they could prevent. Tag, microchip, tattoo or tracker, all work to ensure your pet's safety to the highest degree possible but the results of our sample database search was interesting in what it revealed our owners considered the best protection for their pets.
The safest protection our survey gave of giving their pet the best chance of a speedy return is by having a tag and microchip fitted, - 40% of pet owners on our database have had these fitted.
2. The second highest percentage had their pets fitted with a tag - 21%
And in third place, having them chipped or tattooed - 13%
A surprising high percentage gave their pet no help of a speedy return by having neither a tag or a chip fitted, bearing in mind the low cost to provide such safety - 26%
These results have been taken from our database, (please bear in mind these people have registered their pets with us, in the main, either because their pet had gone missing or to have them covered under the safety of our tag system), produces results with a more "best case scenario" outlook.
Tags - From the results above it is evident that people mostly have a tag fitted and from shows we have attended they come with various information engraved, phone numbers, mobile numbers and home addresses all available - Some pets having numerous tags attached. From shows we have attended they are available in numerous formats with information engraved from home numbers, mobile numbers and home addresses being attached to the pet - and some pets having numerous tags attached!
With the correct tag only one is required - with no security worries of having your own details on show. These tags cost no more than having your details engraved at the a local store onto your preferred tag. The correct pet Reunification ID tag system will allow you to register more than one contact point which can ensure any finder of the missing pet getting in touch with their owner quickly. Contact details can be updated, changed, etc anytime by the member.
Microchip - So easy to have one fitted by your local vet - and for a one off cost of a less than a monthly food bill - the pet has protection for life. Vets, Wardens and Animal Homes have access to a Microchip reader and from there to the pet owner, so simple, just remember to update your details on the chip database for any changes.
Tattoos - This provides both a visual, like a tag, and lifelong cover, like a microchip, but is not so well taken up by pet lovers. It may be the method of tattooing a unique ID onto the pet or perhaps because the tattoo can sometimes become partially covered by hair that results in a low "take up" of this method but it can provide good protection.
Trackers - They will become more popular as people take up the technology that is available to enable trackers to be used and include network cover, battery life and the size of the Tracker being reduced, but as of today they are not widely used.
Advice: All have their own particular benefits but for a tried, tested and value for money system the Tag + Microchip combination keeps your pet as safe as any protection. A visual - the Tag, so any person finding your pet can, without going to a Vet, Warden or the likes have the ability to contact you, if the tag is missing or not used and the pet is taken into a Vets etc, then the Microchip will be scanned and the owner contacted. So if you have one or none it is well worth considering making that small investment in your pet's safety and you can as the owner, have peace of mind.
About the Author:
Sue Hipperson foundered Pets Bureau which is dedicated to ensuring missing dogs are re-unified with their owners. Visit www.petsbureau.co.uk and find out about their unique tag system and how it protects your dog and achieves a high rate of success.. This article, Should Our Pets Go Missing Do We Provide Any Protection is available for free reprint.
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