Getting a new dog is an exciting time for everyone involved, however, there are a few things that need to be done first to make sure that you do everything that you can for them. As a new dog owner, you should be making sure that they are happy, healthy and most importantly safe. Keeping your dog safe should be your number one priority, however, it’s a lot easier nowadays to manage this, thanks to new technology that can help us find lost pets (e.g. microchips).

However, one of the best ways to keep your dog safe and get them returned to you quickly, is to have a Pet Tag on their collar. When you first get your dog, the first thing that you should do is get a collar with an ID tag on, that has their name and your contact information on it. This is a clear indicator that they have an owner. You should make sure to include your number and your address. You can also add on that they are microchipped as well, as this is an easier way to see who they belong to. So why would you need an ID tag though?

Chance That Your Pet Might Get Lost

It’s not something that you will want to think about, but there is always a chance that you dog might get lost. Apparently 1 in 3 pets will get lost at some point, and about 90% of those without a collar ID will never return home. That’s a high number and is something that can be easily lowered if all pets had a tag. Another statistic is that about 10 million pets will get lost every year. So, you really can’t think that it won’t happen to you because it just might.

Losing a dog is not something that you will want to think about, however, it makes sense to just have a tag, as this ensures that if your dog does get lost, then it is easy for the person who finds your dog to get in contact with you. This means that your dog has a higher chance of getting home safely. Although you will obviously have to pay for a tag, it’s not something that will put you out of pocket, and you’ll regret it if you don’t.

Unexpected Events Occur

As suggested, this is something which you can’t expect, but unfortunately unexpected events do occur. Natural disasters can occur without warning, but that’s also the same for things like car accidents or even house fires. You can’t predict that these things will happen. However, it’s better to be prepared, then regret it later. Something as simple as putting a tag on your dog, will be worth it just in case something does happen.

You might be thinking but my dog is only an “indoor dog” though - you should still put a tag on them just in case. At the very least you should make sure that they are microchipped. As what would happen if you left the front door open accidently and they got through it? You might never see them again after that if you don’t have a tag on them (and you definitely won’t if they’re not microchipped). You can’t predict when or if this will happen, so you need to make sure that you are prepared for the unexpected.

Fastest Way for Your Pet to Get Home

If you dog has a tag, then they are more likely to receive help. More people will willingly stop and help a dog if they look to be a family pet (which is something that a tag will help with). If your dog doesn’t have a tag or a collar then people might be hesitant to approach them, and this means that there is a higher chance that your pet could remain lost.

However, by having a tag on your pet (with all your contact information), means that the person can quickly ring you up and give you your dog back. This is a lot faster than pets with just a microchip, as people will need to take them to the vet for this. However, it is still recommended that you get them chipped – as what happens if the tag falls off? You don’t want to lose your dog, so make sure that your do everything you can to make sure that they keep coming back. You don’t want to deal with heartache if they get lost for good!