Picking a pet identification tag for your Shikoku is like purchasing an insurance policy – you do so with the hopes that you’re never going to need it. The “possible cost” of not having a pet ID tag is more costly than the “actual cost” of purchasing the pet tag itself.
The kind of pet ID tag that you buy is crucial, so take 5 minutes or so to think it through. Whimsically buying a collar tag just because it’s cheap or pretty often ends up being unwise, long-term.
Consider the following prior to purchasing any pet identification tag for your Shikoku:
1.What is the amount of risk to your Shikoku?
Missing Shikokus are very common – we’ve all come across “Lost Dog!” signs plastered around the city, or deceased Shikokus lying by the edge of the road. If your Shikoku is a pro at jumping your fence, or cannot help chasing a smell, or young and full of energy, or is not well trained, the risk of a missing Shikoku is high.
But losing your Shikoku isn’t the only possibility.
Sometimes Shikokus get stolen. A pet thief may take Fifi or Spot hoping to get a reward for its return, or to use in pit fights (even small or gentle dogs are susceptible – they can be used as “bait”), or for use in religious rituals.
And what is the risk to your Shikoku if something were to happen to you, the owner?
If you’re a senior adult with a Shikoku, especially 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 Shikoku, maybe with little notice. And anyone can be hit with a disaster or tragedy which leaves you unable to care for your Shikoku.
In this case, will your Shikoku’s new or temporary steward know that Fido hates cats, or needs medication, or even whether or not Max is potty trained? A pet identification that has more than your name and phone number would be very beneficial.
2.What level of risk are you ok with?
Some Shikokus are simply more important to their owners, and the risk of losing that particular animal warrants a specific, more expensive type of pet identification tag. Risk is proportional to value.
Note that there is more than one way to determine the value of your Shikoku. It may be financial (e.g., a purebred Shikoku) or functional (e.g., a guide dog).
But for most Shikoku owners, the sentimental attachment they have to their companion sets its value. For many owners, Shikokus are family members, dearly loved and impossible to replace.
3.From your answers to the two previous queries, what do you require of a pet identification tag?
Pet identification tags come in varying shapes, sizes and materials and hold varying amounts of information. Some have logos or artwork, also. Many pet ID 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 Shikoku’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 traditional types of tags can purchased from any animal doctor or pet store. They’re inexpensive but the amount of info they can display is limited to the size of the tag.
Luckily, you have many more options of pet ID tags for your Shikoku these days, such as microchipping, tattooing, digital display tags, pet registry web sites and voice recorded pet identification tags.
One of the recent entrants in the pet identification market is the high-tech USB drive that hangs off 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 polymer 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 trackers, but their range is limited, due to bluetooth technological limits.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about ShikokusWas 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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