Buying a pet ID tag for your Hokkaido is like buying insurance – you do so with the devout wish that you’re never going to need it. The “possible price” of not having a pet ID tag is more expensive than the “real price” of purchasing the pet tag itself.
The type of pet ID tag that you buy is vital, so take 5 minutes or so to consider it. Whimsically picking a collar tag because it’s cheap or pretty often ends up being unwise, in the long term.
Think about the following prior to picking any pet identification tag for your Hokkaido:
1.What is the amount of risk to your Hokkaido?
Lost Hokkaidos are very common – we have all seen “Lost Hokkaido!” signs setup around town, or deceased dogs lying along the side of the road. If your Hokkaido is a master at breaking through the fence, or can’t help chasing a smell, or young and vigorous, or isn’t correctly trained, the chance of a lost Hokkaido is high.
But losing your Hokkaido isn’t the only concern.
Some Hokkaidos get stolen. A pet thief may steal Fido or Fifi hoping to get a reward for its return, or to use in dog fights (even small or gentle dogs are at risk – they can be used as “bait”), or for use in satanic rituals.
And what is the risk to your Hokkaido if something were to happen to you, the owner?
If you’re a senior adult with a Hokkaido, particularly if you live alone or are in ill health, there’s a good chance that at some point someone else may need to care for your furry friend, perhaps with little notice. And anyone can be struck by tragedy or disaster which leaves you incapable of caring for your companion.
In this case, will your Hokkaido’s temporary or new caregiver know that Fifi hates cats, or needs medicine, or even whether or not Max is housetrained? A pet ID tag that has more than your phone number and name would be extremely beneficial.
2.What amount of danger are you comfortable with?
Some Hokkaidos are just more important to their owners, and the chance of losing that pet calls for a specific, more expensive type of pet identification tag. Risk is directly proportional to value.
Realize that there is more than one way to calculate the value of your Hokkaido. It may be financial (e.g., a purebred Hokkaido) or functional (e.g., a guide dog).
However for most Hokkaido owners, the companionship attachment they have to their companion sets its value. For many, Hokkaidos are like family, impossible to replace and dearly loved.
3.Using your answers to the two previous queries, what do you require of a pet ID tag?
Pet identification tags come in various materials, shapes and sizes and hold varying amounts of info. Some contain logos or artwork, too. Many pet identification tags are meant to be hung from a collar.
At the minimum, a pet identification tag should contain the name, address and phone number of the Hokkaido’s owner in a legible, durable format. Plastic tags are lightweight but chewed easily. Stainless steel tags are durable and don’t rust or fade. These customary types of tags can bought from any animal doctor or pet store. They’re inexpensive yet the amount of info they hold is limited to the size of the tag.
Luckily, you have many more options in pet ID tags for your Hokkaido these days, such as tattooing, microchipping, digital display tags, voice recorded pet id tags, and pet registry websites.
One of the newest entrants in the pet identification game is the high-tech USB drive that hangs from your pet’s collar (or is attached to their cage) and which holds 64MB of data (including complete medical and diet information). The tiny USB drive is encased in a sturdy plastic case and can be used in any computer, where it is easily updated and easy to print sections for sharing with your veterinarian or pet sitter. There are also bluetooth devices for tracking, but their range is limited, because of bluetooth technological limits.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about HokkaidosWas 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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