Picking a pet identification tag for your Azawakh is like purchasing an insurance policy – you do so with the devout wish that you won’t use it. The “possible price” of not having a pet ID tag is more costly than the “real cost” of buying the pet tag itself.
The type of pet ID tag that you buy is crucial, so take five minutes or so to consider it. Impulsively purchasing a collar tag because it’s low cost or trendy usually proves to be foolish, long-term.
Consider the following prior to choosing any pet identification tag for your Azawakh:
1.What is the level of risk to your Azawakh?
Missing Azawakhs are very common – we have all come across “Lost Dog!” signs posted around town, or deceased Azawakhs lying by the edge of the road. If your Azawakh is a pro at breaking through the fence, or cannot help chasing a scent, or young and full of energy, or isn’t well trained, the chance of a lost Azawakh is high.
But losing your Azawakh isn’t the only concern.
Sometimes Azawakhs are stolen. A pet thief may steal Rover or Spot in hopes of getting a reward for its return, or to use in pit fights (even small or gentle dogs are susceptible – they can be used for “bait”), or for use in religious rituals.
And what is the risk to your Azawakh if something happens to you, its owner?
If you’re a senior citizen with a Azawakh, particularly if you live alone or are in poor health, there’s a good chance that at some point someone else may need to care for your furry friend, maybe with short notice. And anyone can be struck by tragedy or disaster that leaves you unable to care for your Azawakh.
In this case, will your Azawakh’s temporary or new steward know that Fido hates cats, or needs medication, or even whether or not Max is potty trained? A pet ID tag that has more than your name and phone number would be very helpful.
2.What level of risk are you comfortable with?
Some Azawakhs are simply more important to their owners, and the risk of losing that particular animal calls for a specific, more expensive kind of pet ID tag. Risk is proportionate to value.
Note that there is more than one way to assess the value of your Azawakh. It may be monetary (e.g., a purebred Azawakh) or functional (e.g., a guide dog).
But for most Azawakh owners, the companionship attachment they have with their Azawakh determines its value. For many, Azawakhs are family, dearly loved and impossible to replace.
3.Based on your answers to the two previous queries, what do you require of a pet identification tag?
Pet identification tags come in varying shapes, sizes and materials and can contain varying amounts of info. Some contain artwork or logos, too. Many pet ID tags are meant to be hung from a collar.
At a bare minimum, a pet identification tag should contain the name, address and phone number of the Azawakh’s owner in a durable, legible format. Plastic tags are light but easily chewed. Stainless steel tags are durable and don’t rust or fade. These traditional types of tags can bought from any vet or pet store. They’re economical yet the amount of info they hold is limited to the size of the tag.
Fortunately, there are many more options for pet identification tags for your Azawakh these days, such as tattooing, microchipping, digital display tags, voice recorded pet identification tags, and pet registry websites.
One of the most recent entrants in the pet ID market is the high-tech USB drive that hangs off your Azawakh’s collar (or is attached to their kennel) and which can hold 64MB of data (including complete medical and diet information). The small USB drive is encased in a sturdy plastic case and can be plugged into any computer, where it is easily updated and easy to print sections for sharing with your veterinarian or pet sitter. There are also bluetooth trackers, but their range is low, because of bluetooth technological limits.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about AzawakhsWas this post helpful? If so, please take a minute to Tweet and Share below on Facebook. I would also love to know your thoughts so leave me a comment 🙂
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