Buying a Pet Identification Tag for Your Whippet

Choosing a pet identification tag for your Whippet is like purchasing an insurance policy – you do it with the devout wish that you’ll never need it. The “possible price” of not having a pet ID tag is more expensive than the “actual price” of buying the pet tag itself.

The kind of pet identification tag that you buy is important, so take 5 minutes or so to consider it. Impulsively picking a collar tag just because it’s inexpensive or cute usually ends up being foolish, long-term.

Consider this prior to picking any pet identification tag for your Whippet:
1.What is the level of risk to your Whippet?
Lost Whippets are certainly common – we’ve all noticed “Lost Whippet!” signs setup around the city, or deceased Whippets lying on the edge of the road. If your Whippet is a pro at jumping the fence, or cannot help chasing a smell, or young and spry, or isn’t properly trained, the possibility of a missing Whippet is high.

But losing your Whippet isn’t the only possibility.

Some Whippets are stolen. A pet thief may take Spot or Rover hoping to get a reward for its return, or to use in pit battles (even small or gentle dogs are susceptible – they can be used as “bait”), or for use in religious rituals.

And what is the danger to your Whippet if something happens to you, the owner?

If you’re a senior adult with a Whippet, particularly 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, maybe with little notice. And anyone can be hit with a tragedy or disaster that leaves you incapable of caring for your companion.

In this instance, will your Whippet’s temporary or new caregiver know that Fido hates cats, or requires medication, or even whether or not Max is potty trained? A pet ID tag that has more than your phone number and name would be extremely beneficial.

2.What level of danger are you ok with?
Some Whippets are just more important to their owners, and the chance of losing that pet warrants a specific, more expensive kind of pet identification tag. Risk is proportionate to value.

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

But for most Whippet owners, the sentimental attachment they have to their Whippet determines its value. For many owners, Whippets are members of the family, impossible to replace and dearly loved.

3.Based on your answers to the two previous queries, what do you require of a pet identification tag?

Pet identification tags come in various shapes, sizes and materials and hold varying amounts of information. Some have logos or artwork, also. Most pet ID tags are designed to be hung from a collar.

At a minimum, a pet identification tag should contain the name, address and phone number of the Whippet’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 traditional kinds of tags can gotten from any animal doctor or pet store. They’re economical however the amount of information they hold is limited to the size of the tag.

Luckily, you have many more options of pet identification tags for your Whippet these days, such as microchipping, tattooing, digital display tags, pet registry web sites and voice recorded pet identification tags.

One of the newer entrants in the pet identification market is the high-tech USB drive that hangs from your Whippet’s collar (or is attached to their cage) and which holds 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 easily updated and easy to print sections for sharing with your vet or pet sitter. There also exist bluetooth devices for tracking, but their range is small, due to bluetooth technological limits.

Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Whippets

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