Choosing a pet ID tag for your Boxer is like buying insurance – you do it with the hopes that you’re never going to need it. The “possible price” of not having a pet ID tag is more costly than the “actual cost” of buying the pet tag itself.
The kind of pet identification tag that you buy is important, so take 5 minutes or so to think it through. Impulsively purchasing a collar tag just because it’s low cost or cute usually ends up being foolish, down the road.
Consider this before buying any pet id tag for your Boxer:
1.What is the level of risk to your Boxer?
Missing Boxers are definitely common – we have all seen “Lost Boxer!” signs tacked around the city, or deceased Boxers lying along the side of the road. If your Boxer is a pro at breaking through the fence, or can’t resist chasing a smell, or young and vigorous, or is not correctly trained, the chance of a missing Boxer is high.
But losing your Boxer isn’t the only risk.
Some Boxers get stolen. A pet thief may snatch Spot or Rover 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 as “bait”), or for use in satanic rituals.
And what is the danger to your Boxer if something happens to you, the owner?
If you’re a senior adult with a Boxer, especially if you live by yourself or are in poor health, there’s a good chance that at some point someone else will need to care for your furry friend, perhaps with little notice. And anyone can be hit with a tragedy or disaster which leaves you unable to care for your companion.
In this instance, will your Boxer’s temporary or new caretaker know that Spot hates cats, or requires medicine, or even whether or not Max is potty trained? A pet identification that contains more than your phone number and name would be extremely helpful.
2.What amount of danger are you comfortable with?
Some Boxers are simply more important to their owners, and the risk of losing that particular animal warrants a specific, more expensive kind of pet ID tag. Risk is proportional to value.
Realize that there are several ways to assess the value of your Boxer. It may be financial (e.g., a purebred Boxer) or functional (e.g., a guide dog).
But for most Boxer owners, the sentimental attachment they have with their companion determines its value. For many owners, Boxers are family members, 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 sizes, shapes and materials and hold varying amounts of information. Some have artwork or logos, as well. Many pet identification tags are designed to be attached to a collar.
At a minimum, a pet ID tag should contain the name, address and phone number of the Boxer’s owner in a legible, durable format. Plastic tags are lightweight but easily chewed. Stainless steel tags don’t rust or fade and are durable. These traditional types of tags can gotten from any vet or pet store. They’re low cost yet the amount of information they hold is limited to the size of the tag.
Fortunately, there are many more options for pet ID tags for your Boxer these days, such as microchipping, tattooing, digital display tags, pet registry web sites and voice recorded pet id tags.
One of the recent entries in the pet identification market is the high-tech USB drive that hangs off your Boxer’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 used in any computer, where it is automatically updated and easy to print sections for sharing with your animal doctor 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 BoxersWas 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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