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Four tips on dog identification

Posted Sun, Mar 30, 2008, 10:03 pm PDT
Proper identification helps ensure that your dog can be quickly returned to you in the case of theft, loss, or other emergency situations. Here are four ways to keep your dog safe:

ID Tag - Your dog should wear an ID tag including your name, address, and phone number at all times. If you include your cell number, this ensures that you can be reached even if you are out of the house.

Microchip - Implanting a microchip is a safe and relatively inexpensive ($20-60) procedure. The chip is inserted between the shoulder blades under the skin with a large needle and can then be read with the proper scanner. Before having a chip implanted, talk to your local shelter or animal control agency to make sure that they can read the type of chip you will have implanted. If you have already implanted an incompatible chip, you can contact the chip manufacturer and request that they provide a proper scanner for your local shelters and animal control agency.

Local Requirements - Most cities or counties require a license for your dog. The license tag should be worn by your dog at all times, so the staff can quickly look up his records and get him back to you in the case that he is brought to a local shelter. Many cities offer a discounted registration fee if your dog is altered. Spay or neuter your dog today!

GPS Collar - These collars allow you to locate your dog at any time. Some provide instant alerts if your dog wanders outside the area you specify. The Global Pet Finder collar even lets you know when outside conditions become too cold or hot for your dog! This device can provide you with peace of mind, particularly if you are rehabilitating a fearful or anxious dog who often goes into "flight" mode.

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20 Comments

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  • 1. RosiesMom - 11:27PM on 03/30/08

    I disagree with the dog's tags having your address on it; just your first name and phone numbers should be enough. If my dog gets picked up by a would-be thief or worse and all that information is on Rosie's collar, that person now knows which house is no longer being guarded by the dog, even if the dog would only be an alert to an intruder. And a GPS device... come on... unless you had a 500 acre ranch or something, the more responsible thing to do would be to get a better fence!

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  • 2. phatmanzpets - 5:05AM on 03/31/08

    I AGREE 100% WITH YOU. WHY MAKE IT EASIER TO LOSE YOUR STUFF. AND TO TOP IT OFF,IF A DOG IS TAKEN BY A WOULD BE THIEF, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO CALL YOU ANYWAY. ALSO TAGS THAT ID THE DOG AS HAVING A CHIP DENOTE THE DOG AS VALUABLE AND THIEVES WILL STEAL IT JUST FOR THAT FACT. LEAVE THE CHIP ID TAG OFF AND PUT YOUR PHONE NUMBER ON THE TAG ONLY . FORGO THE NAME WHICH IN SOME CASES CAN BE TRACED TO AN ADDRESS. THE PHONE NUMBER IS SUFFICIENT.

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  • 3. Lar - 5:06AM on 03/31/08

    she's right, all I use are home phone and cel phone. Addresses open up all kinds of problems.

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  • 4. Jim M - 5:48AM on 03/31/08

    What about a tattoo? There isn't any need to identify the dog with a scanner like the microchip problem. I heard that many service dogs have a tattoo with the dogs handicapped partner/parent's social security number on it. Thats why several Service Dogs lost in Katrina were actually returned to their rightful parent. Service Dogs are covered under the ADA Laws and are supposed to be allowed in any evacuation shelter to perform services for their handicapped partner, so the laws were definitely broken by the red cross,etc. The social security number tattoos in the inside of the ear seems like the safest id to get your dog back. Microchips are not always checked due to not enough volunteers at the shelter, etc. GPS collars are taken off, fall off or stop working from water getting on it. Tags on collars fall off or the tag rings rust off, or collars are removed or fall off. The tattoo is always there and no equipment is needed to see it. Generally a person's social security number is never changed so the rightful dog parent can be located.

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  • 5. Debbie F - 8:10AM on 03/31/08

    You don't want to put your address on the tag but will tattoo your social security number in their ear.... That scares me much more that having an address on the tag.

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  • 6. Susan - 8:42AM on 03/31/08

    I also prefer a tattoo. Many AKC breeders tattoo the AKC number on the inside of the one of the rear legs when the pup is around 5 weeks old. After reading what has been happening with infections and tumors from microchips, I much rather have my dog tattooed. It's safe and it's forever. Even if your dog isn't AKC registered you can just pick a number or word that would associate the dog with you and have it tatttooed either inside the leg or ear. When you license the dog you can add that information to their data on file.

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  • 7. phatmanzpets - 3:42PM on 03/31/08

    Microchips do not cause cancer or tumors. Ever. It is an wives tale or urban myth , like thunder curdles milk or burying your hair on the dark of the moon to make it grow faster. There are no AKC breeders. Aol perpetuates a scare tactic story every few months for ratings as do other sights. There are breeders who's dogs are AKC and very very very few breeders use the old tatoo method. The microchips are the gold standard now. and with the advent of "universal scanners" it is very very rare that a chip cannot be read.They are clean, efficient,safe, and extreamly dependable. And they do not put the poor dog thru the trauma of having a tatoo. when you scan a dog with scanner the 1800 number comes up as well as the number assigned to the dog and most people opt for the chip data base not to give out thier personal information . they data base will contact you themselves to protect the owner. If the owner cannot be reached, the second choice on the application will be contacted and thirdly if niether one , the owner or the emergency contact cannot be reached either the breeder whom had the chip implanted or the vet whom implanted it will be contacted with the number. each person has in his or her records a copy of the registration for the particular number in the chip to facilitate getting the dog back home safe and sound. lets see a tatoo do that!!!!!!!

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  • 8. Pawprint - 5:50PM on 03/31/08

    While I'm not exactly comfortable displaying my address with my phone number I do have my vets address and phone # in addition to my phone # . My dog has been microchipped for 10 years with no problems. I have not ever heard of a dog getting a tumour or infection because of a microchip. If that were to happen I think I'd be looking into the sanitary conditions of the instruments the vet was using.Wouldn't a tatoo run a higher risk of infection? I've seen tatoos that have blurred over time too.The MOST IMPORTANT thing is, it seems all the people on this site agree that their dog does need some form of permanent ID. I've come across a lot of dog owners that think it's just not necessary - of course - until it happens to them... Most vets in my area anyway, are totally on board with using the newest technology and shelters and vets readily have scanners to use on a microchiped animals, and the info can easily be updated if you move. I guess it really comes down to personal choice. But I do argree that you should have something on your dog to prove he is yours!! and of course if he gets lost or stolen it at least enables someone to get him back to you.

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  • 9. Susan - 7:38PM on 03/31/08

    phatmanzpets- The breeder I got my pup from IS an AKC (35+years) breeder and she only tattoo's because of this very problem. It is not a wives tale. They have been doing micro chipping of horses and other livestock before they started with dogs and it's been a re-occuring problem. Check this link for more information: http://www.antichips.com/ it is a very informative article. While some animals don't have a reaction there is documented proof that they can. It is always better to be completely informed before blindly running out and doing the most popular thing. There is also another article that is from a Dutch site so it isn't in English but it does have pictures (on the gorrey side) of what does happen to some animals: http://www.invisio.nl/antichip/ If you scroll down while on this site you will see the results of what happened on the animals. Like I said, this doesn't happen on all animals, but there is a possibility. Just like some people react to medication or don't take to certain corrective surgery like abdomenal wall reconstruction with mesh. I am not trying to change anyone's mind, just offering more information on something that isn't well known. I think we all want what is best for our pets and it all comes down to personal choice. BTW the AKC number can be registered with the American Kennel Club and they will have record of it.

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  • 10. Susan - 7:45PM on 03/31/08

    Oh on the Dutch site click on the links for photos.. sorry!

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  • 11. Kristin - 9:54PM on 03/31/08

    My dog wears a collar with tags at all times- her tag has my home phone, cell phone, an alternate number and an address. She also has a microchip that is registered to me and is listed with another couple websites for recovery purposes. I want my dog back if shes ever lost or stolen. No 2 ways about it. She means the world to me and I would utilize any method available to keep her safe and with me. Ive personally come across dogs in shelters WITH tags that were never notified their dog was there. Ive even called the numbers to tell them. I identified a chi through seeing an ad in the paper for a lost dog and seeing a pic of a dog at a shelter, and the owner never checked that shelter because they were told the dog would have been brought to a different shelter. A tag might have easily prevented what ALMOST happened. Her dog was set to be euth'd due to its age and the fact it was partially blind. She got to him luckily in time. I recently picked up a stray dog with a tattoo that the vet clinic refused to give me info on, due to privacy issues! I eventually got ahold of the owner, but it was a looong process and a huge pain. An address would have made it a 5 minute ordeal instead of an entire weekend plus a 2 day stay for the dog at the shelter and lots of $ for the owner to reclaim. The more ways you can identify a dog as yours and the more ways to be reached if its lost, the better! Ive seen it happen an awful lot of times- plus its more likely your pet will be lost rather than stolen.

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  • 12. Susan - 8:42AM on 04/01/08

    Sorry to post again, but I didn't want anyone thinking I don't use conventional ways like ID tags, rabies tag on my dogs collar. Of course those are there... I just meant the tattoo was a good backup form of ID. Oh and the letters AKC are tattooed before the AKC #. Kristin- I think many shelter workers get so overwhelmed with all the dogs that show up lost or stray. So many times people don't care that their dog ran off and would rather it be someone elses problem. Poor shelter workers have to see all kinds, I think they start to believe the worst and hope for the best. It's a tough job.

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  • 13. CJ Anderson - 5:48PM on 04/01/08

    One additional item is to KNOW and be ready for a lost dog before it happens! KNOW the sites in your area whch will post information on a lost dog on line and newspaper. Know the emergency rooms and vets where rescues take dogs that may have been injured by a car or other animal. BE READY with side and front pictures in the poster which is already copied in color ready to hand out or put up. Time can make the difference between a rescue going the extra mile for a gof whose owner will pay, and putting the dog down, because it would be too expensive or difficult to save. Know WHERE to put up posters in your area - the ways in to your area and out. If you have a church or school near by, be sure to put posters up everywhere there is an entry in. Be sure to know your laws n posting signs - here in Phoenix you are NOT allowed to post signs on city lights or street signs, so just knowing you can post on utlity poles, trees or even stake a sign in to the groung using metal signs you can get from home depot will be left up. If incliment weather is an issue, use plastic sheet protectors that you can get from an office supply store. Use a brightly colored poster 11X14" board orange or pink to draw atttention and to protect the lost dog paper. You can get a free lost dog poster to put your information in from Microsoft templates here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/default.aspx and type in "Dog" to see the third one down for Lost Pet and other great pet templates. Go to Petco Petcare for wonderful information on tips for your pets including lost dogs (cats): http://www.petco.com/CareSheets/CareSheets.aspx?Nav=154 and if you have a Humane Society, check their website for LOCAL lost Dog sources, to let know and search for your beloved pet like the one here is Phoenix: http://www.azhumane.org/artman2/publish/findapet/lostpet.shtml

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  • 14. lorrainevigue - 8:26PM on 04/01/08

    on our tags in Oregon the vets phone no. is there,County license number is on other tage. mine are fixed right into collar which is very secure so if someone cuts collar off they have no intention of returning dog in the first place. I know the chip works as our neighbors dog has that and was returned when he got lost. Other than tying them to your leg there is nothing 100 percent.

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  • 15. treehouselacer - 5:11AM on 04/02/08

    I have a rescued Daschound who is 2 years old. He was picked up by animal control which is how he ended up in a shelter. Now, we know why. If he gets out withour a lease he will run. He just seems curiously to check our everything. Heads towards dogs. He is well adjusted and shows no signs of ever been abused. We love this little dog and do not want to lose him. Any suggestions.

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  • 16. Amy - 1:28PM on 04/02/08

    I have a Dandie Dinmont Terrier mix that was rescued after being a runaway. Since we've had her we have learned that she just loves to run. She goes and visits other people and dogs any time she can manage to run out the door. We just always keep a collar on her with a tag with her name and our phone number and it works just fine. I do intend to get her a microchip though just in case. There have been a few times that she has managed to end up without her collar on while in the house, and it's scary to realize that she could have gotten out and it would have been a disaster.

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  • 17. R & S Adams - 4:19AM on 04/03/08

    Our dog has been chipped, but the chip has migrated and is no longer in the original position. Even tho we know it's there, it's difficult for our kennel and vet to verify. There continues to be medical discussion regarding the safety of chips in humans, so it follows that our pets could also be at risk. Tatooing makes better sense to me because it's visible and can't be ignored.

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  • 18. wfinaltry - 10:28PM on 04/06/08

    I have this branding iron I use for my cattle, so one day I got the idea to use it on my dogs just in case someone stole them. It worked real nice, a prefect brand. I can always tell my dogs even from a distance.

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  • 19. thebesters@btinternet.com - 3:00AM on 04/07/08

    Hi Cesar, any chance of your programmes on South African TV.. I miss them now that I no longer in the UK.....or any visit to SA for the future.. thanks Moira ....

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  • 20. allee - 6:05AM on 05/01/08

    HI, all great ideas from Ceaser and a few other commenters. I also have a suggestion. Know your pet physically. every scar, bump, scratch, hair coloring, in case of my female lab, how many nipples.lol.. My female labs coloring especially, when she was a pup she had a single white hair on her chest. Some black labs have a white patch, mine does not. Now she does not have that single white hair anymore, but does have a scar. She got in a fight with a tree, peeling its bark to show how tough she was,lol. If she were to ever be in a doggie line-up at the pound, I would know her. We use a collar with tags and numbers, have a tag from a free online service that has our info and a website listed on it. She also wears a harness not a regular callar, so less likely to fall of. I wanted her microchipped, but as yet we have not done that. And we have also considered tattooing her, but not just an id number, a real tattoo . my sis is a tatto artist. and does detail tiny detail wark like you have never seen, small enough for the ear. Hey, just my thoughts.

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