Preface: We engrave whatever you key into the tag text fields when you order a Pet ID Tag from us, and you can key in ANY information you feel will be beneficial: chip numbers, license numbers, rabies vaccination info, medical information, literally anything you want.

I have been doing nothing but Pet ID Tags all my life, and thus I have given the subject of what is most valuable information to have on a Pet’s ID Tag a great deal of thought.  Let’s do the logic.

Suppose you came across a dog or cat you suspected to be lost, what you would you do?  You’d take out your cell phone and call the number on the Pet’s Tag.  What would you do if one of your beloved Pets was missing?  You would be “on the edge of your seat” waiting for a call to come in.  My point is that if all that was on your Pet’s ID Tag was your cell phone number you would likely get a call the minute a human came across your lost pet.  Conclusion:  Cell phone numbers are—by far—the most valuable information to include on your Pet’s ID Tag.

Of course my wife and I can have anything we want on our own Pet’s ID Tags, so what do we include?  The Pet’s Name, my wife and my first names, my cell, her cell and our vet’s phone number.  With this information I have every confidence that the minute a human came across one of our Lost Pets a call would come in; and there would not be any chance we would miss it as we would be waiting for a call to come in.  Further there would be no need for our lost Pet’s Finder to contact the chip company. I believe in chips, but microchips are ID of last resort and provided your Pet’s ID Tag is still on your Pet’s collar there will not be any need for your Pet’s Finder to contact the chip issuer.

Personally I don’t see physical addresses as being of much benefit when it comes to getting a lost pet back.  Is my Lost Pet’s Finder going to load my pet into their car and drive over to my house?  Logic tells me, no they are not, they are going to call me.  And what if they did drive the pet over and I was not home?  Also, even if you do want your address on your pet’s tag—your zip code is of no benefit to the finder of a lost pet.  No one is going to write a letter about finding a lost pet, which is why we, as a matter of policy, do not engrave zip codes on the tags we provide.  But if a customer wants their zip code on their Pet’s ID Tag we can and will include it.

Lastly on the subject of Pet Names on ID Tags: I am aware of the view that you should not include your Pet’s Name on its ID Tag because it will aid a person who wants to steal your dog.  Personally I find this argument to be flawed.  The same argument can be made as to why the Pet’s Name is beneficial.  A Lost Pet is likely to be frightened and thus hearing its name can calm it and allow its finder get control of  your dog, read the phone number on its ID Tag and call you.  Personally I believe most people—by far—who find a lost dog will do all they can to reunite it with its family.  And is not having your Pet’s Name going to prevent the rare evil person who does want to steal your pet from doing so?  Conclusion:  In my view listing your Pet’s Name on its ID Tag far outweighs the reasons some people say you shouldn’t.