Question on dog tags

[Mary Plummer]

Hello everyone,

I noticed this morning as I was cuddling with Mr. Blue before heading out for work that his ID tag is getting really worn down, and I need to get him a new one. Before I order it, I wanted to check here to see what info you have posted on yours. It seems like I remember reading somewhere NOT to have the dog's name on it. His current tag has our phone number and address, and a "Please Call" comment. Is this sufficient, or should I include my name and/or the fact that he is microchipped?

Other than that, he is really enjoying the midwinter warm-up we're having. I think it got close to 40 today, and it's supposed to stay warm for the next few days. I'm hoping it melts all the ice floes on some sidewalks in our neighborhood! Of course, it's supposed to rain tomorrow, which Mr. Blue dislikes more than the cold.

[k9Karen]

Ours have their name and our phone number only. I think I also read somewhere that it's not a good idea to put the dog's name on the tag. I guess there are pros and cons on that one. Mickey had two tags - one had our name and his, plus our address and phone number (with outdateed area code). The other had only his name and our phone number (with the right area code - the first one was made before it was changed). I think, at minimum, you should put your phone number(s). Anything else would be up to you and what you'd feel most comfortable with.

[Cindy]

I think I also read somewhere that it's not a good idea to put the dog's name on the tag. I guess there are pros and cons on that one.

what are the pros and cons? I never heard this before, thanks in advance.

[arki]

Hm...
About that "no dog name" thing.
My husband and I have reunited many dogs with their happy owners precisely because we could get their trust very quickly, knowing their names.
Of course, if someone wants to steal your dog, it would be be equally helpful to them.
So, I think we have to decide according to what is more likely in our area (dog fights/puppy mills etc. vs a local government/general public that wants to keep dogs off the streets, for whatever reason.)

I personally will ALWAYS put the dog's name on one side, with the biggest letters possible.
On the other side, I have my land line AND my cell phone number.
And my house number and street.

That is all there is space for.
Some people put their vet's number, but in our case it's highly unlikely that our guys would be close to his office, should they have an accident.
And I think it's much more important that some good Samaritan would bring them to the NEAREST vet without wasting any time, than anything else.

For the microchip we have a separate little tag that came with the chip, but if you have space, I think it would be a good idea to put that on.
I would even sacrifice the "Please Call" for it, because I don't think it would make a difference.
If you have a tag with all that info, it will tell the rescuer that you care and as a rescuer I only need enough information to be able to bring a dog back. There is also no need for the owner's name, IMO.

Does that make sense?

[Amandasmom]

I have the dogs name, my street address and phone number. I used to have my pager number but I don't have a pager any more. When I'm visiting with my dogs, I'll either get one of those plastic tags or take an address label and stick it to the tag. I agree with arki to have the dogs name since it has helped when I have found dogs. Knowing their name helped me calm them. I think if someone is going to steal your dog, knowing it's name doesn't really matter when the control stick is around their neck. I also keep an extra name tag on me when I walk the dogs in case I get hurt and the dogs abandon me. While I'm at it, I bought a bunch of extra dog tags and put them on my luggage. You don't have to worry about them getting pulled off.

[jason]

maybe its because im a nerd, but i would include an email address if room allowed. i think most important is phone number...my childhood companion was returned *many* times using the phone number on his tag.

might also check with your vet and see if some notice linking your dog with your vet is possible...that way, if your not available then at least your vet (dogs health history) is available quickly in times of emergency.

[Amandasmom]

The rabies tag usually has the vet info on it plus a tag number that the vet can use to identify who is attached to the tag. Plus if your dog has a license, that will identify you.

[Traci]

AM, exactly...a rabies tag always includes the vet's number (or clinic name), a license tag will include the contact name or number of the issuer, and a microchip tag includes a national database number.

Word of caution on microchips, it is up to the owner to keep the information current, depending on the requirements, you may need to pay additional to keep your information current (i.e. usually $15 annually or a seperate charge to change information to the database). Also, not all vets or shelters use a universal scanner, so for this reason it's so important to keep the tag secure on the collar, keep info up-to-date.

Bottom line, whichever tags you choose to put on the collar, make sure they are secure and up-to-date. I can't tell you how many times we have had dogs come into us with out-of-date phone numbers, out-of-date addresses, expired rabies tags, tags that were worn and totally unreadable. (or no tags at all)

[arki]

...a rabies tag always includes the vet's number (or clinic name), a license tag will include the contact name or number of the issuer

I always forget because we have been very lucky so far, not to have rabies in the country.
Our licence tag is probably like yours, but on weekends, people better don't lose or find any dogs with only a licence tag. As I had to learn, weekends sometimes last from Friday noon until mid-morning Monday in our Shire office...

I just remembered, I added the word "Diabetic" to my cat's tag right after she was diagnosed, because she would have hated an additional Medical Alert tag. Which brings me to a question.

Traci, what other conditions/diseases would be helpful for you vet people to know immediately (without having to call my vet first), in an emergency?
I know, your first job is to stabilize, treat for shock etc. which I don't think should differ, but would it help later on if, for example, I put "CRF" on my cat's or "Bee Sting Allergy" on my dog's tag? Or would that be useless information?

.

[Traci]

Two that I can think of off-hand would be vaccine reaction and medication dependant. Since it would be an owner's preference (and best interests for the pet), properly abbreviating the condition or need is crucial since most tags don't allow enough space to engrave the full condition. So, for that reason, some ingenuity on the owner's part will help greatly, for example:

VAX RXTN
DO NOT VAX
ALLERGIC to VACCS

Requires Meds
Needs Meds
Medi-Alert

Or generalized, if there is a health condition:

If found, contact my VET (include number)
(ideally, your vet would be a 24-hour facility)

As for treatment, if ID tags are present, of course contacting the owner for permission to treat would be priority. If owner can't be contacted, then minimal treatment at best is usually done (i.e., hit by car, to stabilize, save life). For other conditions known to the clinic, or after identification and we know this is our patient, a general health assessment would give the attending vet an idea if treatment is required. (extensive diagnostics wouldn't be the norm without owner's consent), plus reviewing the patient's medical record for previous treatment prescribed by us. Then the vet makes the judgement call based on the patient's needs until the owner can be contacted.

For pets without ID tags, it depends on the vet and the clinic policies. I suppose the majority would stabilize and perform life-saving medical treatment, but beyond that is up to the clinic or local animal shelter policies. Our clinic will treat most any emergency, but without an owner, and without the owner's consent, that treatment would be minimal and the pet would be handed over to the local animal shelter.

Our clinic will also hold a lost pet with ID tags over the weekend or holidays while attempting to contact the owner. The clinic will usually make the attempt for up to 3-5 business days in which if the owner still is not contacted, then the animal shelter takes over.

As for your abbreviations, CRF or Bee Sting Allergy, any clinic of course would understand the treatment needed, however, don't assume the average layperson who finds your pet would know what CRF is abbreviated for. For this reason, ingenuity in abbreviation is important. Even if you include your address and/or phone number on your tags, I always suggest that your vet's number (and/or clinic name) is always included as well.