I D Tags

It is a sad fact that thousands of pets go missing every year and are not returned to their owner because they have no form of identification. As animals cannot speak for themselves, it is extremely important to know that they are properly identified so that if lost, when found, they can be returned to their relieved owner as quickly as possible.

Most dogs rehomed from Dog Rescues are microchipped to the Rescue - it's a shocking fact that many microchipped dogs that are traced back to their owners are refused or denied knowledge of. Rescues will always take responsibility for a dog that has been rehomed from them, even if the subsequent owner relinquishes ownership.

The Control of Dogs Order 1992 mandates that any dog in a public place must wear a collar with the name and address of the owner engraved or written on it, or engraved on a tag. Your postcode is optional (but I would strongly advise that you include it), and your telephone number is also optional (but advisable), and it makes sense to put your mobile number if you carry a mobile phone when you're walking your dog and he/she runs off.

Some people have their dog's name engraved on the ID Tag. Personally, I don't do this because I feel it's an invitation to be too familiar with and entice a dog if someone has bad intentions and wants to steal a dog.

Daisy has tags with my name, address and mobile number on...like you Ria, I choose not to put her name on her tags. I seem to remember being told that after you have had the dog for a year you can add your own details to the microchip as well as the Rescue details. Is this correct? I would like to do this for Daisy's chip if I can.

Hi Lucy,

Yes, you can ask Forest to add your name, and the Microchip people will contact you too if Daisy is found and scanned.

That's great, I'll contact them tomorrow. Hopefully, there will never be a need but I would like the peace of mind.

I really must get some more ID tags done.

Ria, at the moment I have tags for the foster dogs with "foster Dog" followed by my mobile number. Do you think I should have the next ones done with the rescue's details on it as well?

I take the view that while the dog is on foster with me, he is my responsibility, so I have my details on the tag. As you know, the rescue's insurance doesn't cover a foster dog if it is off lead in a public place, and the responsibility lies entirely with the fosterer. On that basis, I view the tag as respresenting who is responsible, not necessarily the 'legal' owner. Perhaps the way to cover all bases is to have a tag that shows the rescue's contact details as well as your own. Personally, I spend enough on these foster dogs and the cost of another tag equates to a good quality toy, and I know which the dog would prefer,

I know what you mean about the cost of the foster dogs Ria