Buying a pet identification tag for your Talbot is like purchasing an insurance policy – you do it with the hopes that you won’t need it. The “possible price” of not having a pet ID tag is more costly than the “real price” of purchasing the pet tag itself.
The type of pet ID tag that you buy is important, so take five minutes or so to consider it. Whimsically buying a collar tag just because it’s inexpensive or cute usually ends up being a regret, down the road.
Consider the following before choosing any pet identification tag for your Talbot:
1.What is the amount of risk to your Talbot?
Lost Talbots are definitely common – we’ve all come across “Lost Dog!” signs plastered around town, or dead dogs lying by the side of the road. If your Talbot is a master at breaking through the fence, or cannot help following a smell, or young and vigorous, or is not properly trained, the chance of a missing Talbot is high.
But losing your Talbot isn’t the only risk.
Sometimes Talbots are stolen. A pet thief may snatch Fifi or Spot hoping to get a reward for its return, or to use in dog fights (even small or gentle dogs are susceptible – they can be used as “bait”), or for use in satanic rituals.
And what is the danger to your Talbot if something were to happen to you, its owner?
If you’re a senior citizen with a Talbot, especially if you live alone or are in ill health, there’s a good chance that at some point someone else will need to care for your furry friend, perhaps with short notice. And anyone can be hit with a disaster or tragedy which leaves you incapable of caring for your companion.
In this instance, will your Talbot’s new or temporary caretaker know that Fido hates cats, or requires medication, or even whether or not Max is housetrained? A pet ID tag that has more than your name and phone number would be extremely helpful.
2.What amount of risk are you comfortable with?
Some Talbots 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.
Keep in mind that there are multiple ways to assess the value of your Talbot. It may be monetary (e.g., a purebred Talbot) or functional (e.g., a guide dog).
But for most Talbot owners, the companionship attachment they have with their Talbot sets its value. For many people, Talbots are family members, impossible to replace and dearly loved.
3.Using your answers to the two previous questions, what do you need in a pet identification tag?
Pet ID tags come in various sizes, shapes and materials and can contain varying amounts of information. Some have logos or artwork, also. Many pet ID tags are meant to be attached to a collar.
At the minimum, a pet ID tag should contain the name, address and phone number of the Talbot’s owner in a legible, durable format. Plastic tags are light but easily chewed. Stainless steel tags are durable and don’t rust or fade. These traditional kinds of tags can bought from any veterinarian or pet store. They’re cheap however the amount of information they can contain is limited to the size of the tag.
Luckily, there are many more options of pet identification tags for your Talbot these days, such as microchipping, tattooing, digital display tags, pet registry web sites and voice recorded pet id tags.
One of the newest entrants in the pet identification game is the high-tech USB drive that hangs off your pet’s collar (or is attached to their cage) and which holds 64MB of data (including complete diet and medical information). The small USB drive is encased in a sturdy polymer case and can be plugged into any computer, where it is readily updated and easy to print sections for sharing with your veterinarian or pet sitter. There also exist bluetooth trackers, but their range is small, due to bluetooth technological limits.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about TalbotsWas 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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