Picking a Pet ID Tag for The Portuguese Podengo

Choosing a pet identification tag for your Portuguese Podengo is like buying an insurance policy – you do so with the faith that you’ll never need it. The “possible price” of not having a pet ID tag is more expensive than the “real cost” of purchasing the pet tag itself.

The type of pet ID tag that you buy is important, so take 5 minutes or so to think it through. Impulsively picking a collar tag because it’s inexpensive or trendy usually ends up being foolish, in the long term.

Consider the following prior to picking any pet identification tag for your Portuguese Podengo:
1.What is the amount of risk to your Portuguese Podengo?
Lost Portuguese Podengos are definitely common – we have all come across “Lost Dog!” signs plastered around town, or dead dogs lying along the side of the road. If your Portuguese Podengo is a pro at breaking through the fence, or can’t resist chasing a scent, or young and vigorous, or is not properly trained, the risk of a missing Portuguese Podengo is high.

But losing your Portuguese Podengo isn’t the only risk.

Some Portuguese Podengos are stolen. A pet thief may take Fifi or Spot 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 as “bait”), or for use in cult rituals.

And what is the danger to your Portuguese Podengo if something happens to you, its owner?

If you’re a senior adult with a Portuguese Podengo, particularly if you live by yourself or are in ill health, there’s a high chance that at some point someone else may need to care for your furry friend, maybe with little notice. And anyone can be hit with a tragedy or disaster that renders you unable to care for your Portuguese Podengo.

In this instance, will your Portuguese Podengo’s temporary or new caregiver know that Rover hates cats, or requires medicine, or even whether or not Max is potty trained? A pet ID tag that has more than your name and phone number would be very helpful.

2.What amount of risk are you ok with?
Some Portuguese Podengos are simply more important to their owners, and the risk of losing that particular animal calls for a specific, more expensive kind of pet ID tag. Risk is directly proportional to value.

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

But for most Portuguese Podengo owners, the emotional attachment they have with their Portuguese Podengo sets its value. For many people, Portuguese Podengos are members of the family, dearly loved and impossible to replace.

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

Pet ID tags come in various materials, shapes and sizes and can contain varying amounts of info. Some have artwork or logos, as well. Many pet ID tags are meant to be attached to a collar.

At a minimum, a pet ID tag should contain the name, address and phone number of the Portuguese Podengo’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 customary kinds of tags can bought from any animal doctor or pet store. They’re cheap but the amount of info they can display is limited to the size of the tag.

Luckily, you have many more options of pet identification tags for your Portuguese Podengo these days, such as tattooing, microchipping, digital display tags, voice recorded pet id tags, and pet registry websites.

One of the recent entrants in the pet identification game is the high-tech USB drive that hangs from your Portuguese Podengo’s collar (or is attached to their kennel) and which can hold 64MB of data (including comprehensive diet and medical information). The tiny USB drive is encased in a sturdy plastic case and can be plugged into any computer, where it is readily updated and easy to print sections for sharing with your veterinarian or pet sitter. There are also bluetooth devices for tracking, but their range is severely limited, due to bluetooth technological limits.

Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Portuguese Podengos

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