Choosing a Pet ID Tag for The Parson Russell Terrier

Buying a pet identification tag for your Parson Russell Terrier is like buying 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 expensive than the “actual cost” of purchasing the pet tag itself.

The type of pet ID tag that you buy is crucial, so take five minutes or so to think it through. Whimsically picking a collar tag because it’s low cost or pretty usually ends up being unwise, long-term.

Consider this prior to picking any pet identification tag for your Parson Russell Terrier:
1.What is the amount of risk to your Parson Russell Terrier?
Missing Parson Russell Terriers are very common – we have all seen “Lost Parson Russell Terrier!” signs plastered around town, or deceased Parson Russell Terriers lying on the side of the road. If your Parson Russell Terrier is a master at hopping the fence, or can’t help tracking a scent, or youthful and energetic, or is not properly trained, the possibility of a missing Parson Russell Terrier is high.

But losing your Parson Russell Terrier isn’t the only possibility.

Some Parson Russell Terriers 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 for “bait”), or for use in religious rituals.

And what is the risk to your Parson Russell Terrier if something were to happen to you, the owner?

If you’re a senior citizen with a Parson Russell Terrier, especially if you live alone or are in ill health, there’s a high chance that at some point someone else may need to care for your Parson Russell Terrier, maybe with little notice. And anyone can be hit with a disaster or tragedy that renders you incapable of caring for your companion.

In this case, will your Parson Russell Terrier’s temporary or new steward know that Spot hates cats, or needs medication, or even whether or not Max is housetrained? A pet ID tag that contains more than your name and phone number would be very beneficial.

2.What level of risk are you comfortable with?
Some Parson Russell Terriers are just more important to their owners, and the chance of losing that particular animal warrants a specific, more expensive kind of pet identification tag. Risk is proportional to value.

Keep in mind that there are many ways to assess the value of your Parson Russell Terrier. It may be financial (e.g., a purebred Parson Russell Terrier) or occupational (e.g., a guide dog).

But for most Parson Russell Terrier owners, the emotional attachment they have to their companion determines its value. For many, Parson Russell Terriers 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 identification tags come in varying materials, shapes and sizes and can contain varying amounts of info. Some contain artwork or logos, too. Most pet ID tags are designed to be attached to a collar.

At the minimum, a pet identification tag should contain the name, address and phone number of the Parson Russell Terrier’s owner in a durable, legible format. Plastic tags are light but easily chewed. Stainless steel tags don’t rust or fade and are durable. These customary types of tags can gotten from any vet or pet store. They’re inexpensive but the amount of info they can display is limited to the size of the tag.

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

One of the newest entries in the pet ID game is the high-tech USB drive that hangs off your Parson Russell Terrier’s collar (or is attached to their kennel) and which can hold 64MB of data (including complete medical and diet information). The tiny USB drive is encased in a sturdy polymer case and can be used in any computer, where it is automatically updated and easy to print sections for sharing with your veterinarian or pet sitter. There also exist bluetooth devices for tracking, but their range is low, because of bluetooth technological limits.

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

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