Picking a Pet Identification Tag for Your Boerboel

Buying a pet ID tag for your Boerboel is like buying insurance – 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 identification tag that you buy is important, so take 5 minutes or so to think it through. Impulsively picking a collar tag just because it’s inexpensive or trendy usually ends up being unwise, long-term.

Consider this before purchasing any pet id tag for your Boerboel:
1.What is the amount of risk to your Boerboel?
Lost Boerboels are definitely common – we have all noticed “Lost Boerboel!” signs posted around the city, or deceased Boerboels lying on the side of the road. If your Boerboel is a pro at breaking through the fence, or can’t help chasing a smell, or young and spry, or is not correctly trained, the possibility of a lost Boerboel is high.

But losing your Boerboel isn’t the only possibility.

Some Boerboels are stolen. A pet thief may steal Fifi or Fido 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 satanic rituals.

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

If you’re a senior citizen with a Boerboel, especially if you live by yourself or are in ill health, there’s a good chance that at some point someone else will need to care for your furry friend, perhaps with short notice. And anyone can be hit with a tragedy or disaster which renders you incapable of caring for your Boerboel.

In this case, will your Boerboel’s temporary or new caregiver know that Rover hates cats, or needs medication, or even whether or not Max is potty trained? A pet ID tag that contains more than your name and phone number would be very helpful.

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

Note that there are multiple ways to assess the value of your Boerboel. It may be monetary (e.g., a purebred Boerboel) or functional (e.g., a guide dog).

However for most Boerboel owners, the sentimental attachment they have with their companion sets its value. For many people, Boerboels are members of the family, impossible to replace and dearly loved.

3.Based on your responses to the two previous queries, what do you need in a pet identification tag?

Pet identification tags come in various materials, shapes and sizes and hold varying amounts of info. Some contain artwork or logos, too. Usually pet identification tags are designed to be hung from a collar.

At the minimum, a pet ID tag should contain the name, address and phone number of the Boerboel’s owner in a durable, legible format. Plastic tags are light but chewed easily. 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 cheap yet the amount of information they can display is limited to the size of the tag.

Luckily, you have many more options for pet ID tags for your Boerboel these days, such as microchipping, tattooing, digital display tags, pet registry web sites and voice recorded pet id 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 kennel) and which holds 64MB of data (including complete diet and medical information). The small 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 animal doctor 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 Boerboels

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