Source: Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock.com A safe pet is a happy pet! Your pet’s health and safety is one of the most important aspects of being a pet owner. Your pet relies on you to keep them safe. One of the many ways you can do that is by ensuring they have a pet ID tag! Knowing what to write on dog tag can be difficult for many owners, so we’ve put together some information that should, hopefully, guide you to ensure your pet stays safe. Do I Really Need a Pet Tag? The short answer: yes! The long answer is you need one for a variety of reasons. First, your pet tag will contain important information about your pet others might not know otherwise. Your pet’s name, your contact information and whether or not they’re microchipped can help to identify your pet faster and get them home to you much more easily. Find Out What to Write on Dog Tag in Our Guide Second, the tags can let people know whether your animal has received their vaccines. If, for some reason, your pet does get out and comes into contact with infected wildlife, veterinarians will know how to best treat them if they come in with wounds or bites. Source: otsphoto/Shutterstock.com What Information Do I Need to Include on My Pet’s Tag? The information you include on your pet’s tag can mean the difference between getting returned or staying lost. Our personalized dog tags come with four rows of space on the back you can personalize any way you see fit, plus space on the front you can use to provide your pet’s name. Here are some of our recommended categories you should consider including on your pet’s tag: - Pet’s Name: This one is obvious. Your pet’s tag should always have their name on it. Consider adding any other names you call your dog so finders can use them to get the dog to pay attention or stay. - Your full name: Include your full name on the back of the tag so shelters and finders can properly identify you. There’s nothing worse than knowing someone gave your pet away because another “Robert” or “Mary” came to pick them up! - Your full address: Whenever you move, you should update the address listed on your pet’s tag. You’d do the same for your driver’s license, so why not do the same for your pet? Including the full street address, complete with city and zipcode, is a must. If you feel your address is taking up too much space, at least include the zip code because that’s a unique number not shared between cities and counties across the U.S. - Your phone number: As with your address, you should always update your phone number on your pet’s tag whenever you get a new one. Having your accurate phone number on your pet’s tag can eliminate a finder’s need to take your pet to a shelter — if they can contact you directly, then you can arrange a meet-up to retrieve your pet! Tired of the Jingle? A Silicone Dog Tag Is Silent! - Vaccinations: Some vet offices provide you with a tag for each vaccine your pet receives, especially rabies. However, lots of metal tags can make a lot of noise — irksome to hear late at night when you’re trying to sleep! Instead, use a silicone dog tag to ensure your pet stays silent but safe. Include which vaccines they’ve received and what date. Source: otsphoto/Shutterstock.com - Medical needs: If your pet has any medical needs, such as diabetes or cancer, you should include that on their tag. You can simply write “needs daily meds,” to emphasize the importance of your pet receiving care every 24 hours. This will also alert the shelter or vet staff and ensure your pet gets the medical attention they might need. - Microchip status: Including whether your pet’s been microchipped on their ID tag can be beneficial to finding them faster. When it’s scanned by a technician or a shelter employee, it can’t tell them where you’re located, but it can tell them how to contact you. You should always provide your pet with both a microchip and a pet tag. A pet tag will tell more information than a microchip, but a microchip is great in case your pet’s collar or tag is ripped off. Together, pet tags and microchipping can ensure your pet has the best chance of getting back to you.