Buying a Pet Identification Tag for The Norfolk Terrier

Picking a pet identification tag for your Norfolk Terrier is like purchasing an insurance policy – you do so with the devout wish that you’re never going to need it. The “possible cost” of not having a pet ID tag is more costly than the “actual price” of purchasing the pet tag itself.

The type of pet ID tag that you buy is vital, so take five minutes or so to consider it. Impulsively purchasing a collar tag just because it’s inexpensive or pretty usually proves to be unwise, in the long term.

Consider this before buying any pet id tag for your Norfolk Terrier:
1.What is the amount of risk to your Norfolk Terrier?
Lost Norfolk Terriers are very common – we’ve all come across “Lost Dog!” signs plastered around town, or deceased Norfolk Terriers lying on the edge of the road. If your Norfolk Terrier is a pro at hopping the fence, or can’t resist chasing a scent, or youthful and spry, or isn’t properly trained, the chance of a lost Norfolk Terrier is high.

But losing your Norfolk Terrier isn’t the only risk.

Sometimes Norfolk Terriers are stolen. A pet thief may steal Fido or Fifi in hopes of getting a reward for its return, or to use in pit fights (even small or gentle dogs are at risk – they can be used for “bait”), or for use in cult rituals.

And what is the danger to your Norfolk Terrier if something were to happen to you, the owner?

If you’re a senior citizen with a Norfolk Terrier, particularly if you live by yourself or are in poor health, there’s a high chance that at some point someone else may need to care for your furry friend, maybe with short notice. And anyone can be hit with a disaster or tragedy which renders you incapable of caring for your Norfolk Terrier.

In this instance, will your Norfolk Terrier’s temporary or new caretaker know that Fido hates cats, or needs medication, 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 ok with?
Some Norfolk Terriers are simply more important to their owners, and the chance of losing that particular animal warrants a specific, higher priced kind of pet identification tag. Risk is proportional to value.

Realize that there is more than one way to calculate the value of your Norfolk Terrier. It may be financial (e.g., a purebred Norfolk Terrier) or occupational (e.g., a guide dog).

However for most Norfolk Terrier owners, the companionship attachment they have with their Norfolk Terrier determines its value. For many people, Norfolk Terriers are family members, dearly loved and impossible to replace.

3.Using your answers to the two previous questions, what do you require of a pet identification tag?

Pet ID tags come in various materials, shapes and sizes and hold varying amounts of info. Some contain logos or artwork, too. Most pet ID tags are designed to be attached to a collar.

At a bare minimum, a pet ID tag should contain the address, phone number and name of the Norfolk Terrier’s owner in a durable, legible format. Plastic tags are light but chewed easily. Stainless steel tags are durable and don’t rust or fade. These traditional kinds of tags can purchased from any vet or pet store. They’re low cost however the amount of information they hold is limited to the size of the tag.

Fortunately, there are many more options of pet identification tags for your Norfolk Terrier these days, such as tattooing, microchipping, digital display tags, voice recorded pet identification tags, and pet registry websites.

One of the newest entries in the pet identification game is the high-tech USB drive that hangs off your Norfolk Terrier’s collar (or is attached to their cage) and which can hold 64MB of data (including comprehensive diet and medical information). The small USB drive is encased in a sturdy plastic case and can be plugged into any computer, where it is automatically updated and easy to print sections for sharing with your vet or pet sitter. There are also bluetooth devices for tracking, but their range is small, due to bluetooth technological limits.

Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Norfolk Terriers

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