How Protected Are Our Dogs and Cats?

We are a nation of pet lovers, send Birthday and Christmas cards to our pets, lavish them with presents, tit bits and pamper their every need. In some cases no expense is spared. So we thought we would put this impression to the test, by taking a sample from our registered pet database, a mix of dogs and cats. We know through talking to pet owners that losing a pet is a massively traumatic experience, so unexpected, and unbelievable that it could happen to you.

By law dogs in public areas must have a form of identification on them, usually a tag, but in your home or garden this is not required, likewise there is no requirement for cats to have any ID on them. But if they go astray, get lost, how can your pet have a very good chance of being found and returned to you safely. Well this can be provided and, when you consider what is spent on pets weekly, be it food, toys, health insurance, etc, at a very, very little cost considering the anguish they could prevent. Tag, microchip, tattoo or tracker, all work to ensure your pet's safety to the highest degree possible but the results of our sample database search was surprising in what it revealed.

The highest percentage gives their pet the best chance of a speedy return by having a tag and microchip fitted, - 40%

The second highest percentage have their pets fitted with only a tag - 21%

In third place, having them chipped or tattooed - 13%

A surprising high percentage give their pet no help of a speedy return by having neither a tag or a microchip fitted, bearing in mind the low cost to provide such safety - 26%

These results have been taken from our database, (bear in mind these people registered their pets with us, in the main, either because the pet had gone missing or to have them covered under the safety of our tag system), produce's results that indicate a more "best case scenario".

Tags - From the results above it is evident that people mostly have a tag fitted and from shows we have attended with various information engraved, home numbers, mobile numbers and home addresses all available. Some pets having numerous tags attached. With the correct tag attached only one is required with no security worries of having your own details on show. These tags usually cost no more than having your details engraved at the local hardware store onto your preferred tag. The correct pet Reunification ID tag system will allow you to register more than one contact point which can ensure any finder of the missing pet getting in touch with their owner quickly. Contact details can be updated, changed, etc anytime by the member.

Microchip - So easy to have inserted by your local vet and for a one off cost of a less than a monthly food bill and the pet has protection for life. Most Vets, Wardens and Animal Homes have access to a Microchip scanner and from there to the pet owner, so simple, just remember to update your details on the chip database for any changes.

Tattoos - Ear tattoos provide both visual, like a tag, and lifelong cover like a microchip but are not so well taken up by pet lovers. It may be the method of tattooing a unique number onto the pet or because the tattoo can become partially covered by hair that gives a low "take up" of this method but it can provide good protection.

Trackers - These will become more popular as people embrace the technology that is available to enable trackers to be used and include network cover, battery life and particularly the size being reduced, but as of today these are not extensively used.

Advice, all have their own particular benefits but for a tried, tested and value for money system the Tag + Microchip combination keeps your pet as safe as any protection. A visual, the Tag, so any person finding your pet can without going to a Vet, Warden or the likes have the ability to contact you, if the tag is missing or not used and the pet is taken into a Vets etc, then the Microchip will be scanned and the owner contacted. So if you have one or none it is well worth considering making that small investment in your pet's safety and you can as the owner, have peace of mind.

James Jay.

"Unless you have gone through it yourself, you may not appreciate that a missing pet can be absolutely devastating. Every day I speak with distraught owners who are beside themselves with worry and often they don't know where to turn". Pets Bureau, see http://www.petsbureau.co.uk/, was founded in January 2009 and - through a clever marrying of social networking sites, an extensive database of pets and a network of like-minded members; including dog wardens and police - has achieved an 80 per cent success rate.

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