Everyone knows they need to keep ID on their pet. But, we all get lax over time. That’s why it is always good to take the opportunity during National Pet ID Week to be sure all of your information is up-to-date and your pet is properly tagged.

Beginning April 17th, Pet ID Week will begin. Most pets, particularly those you may have obtained from a shelter or rescue group, are microchipped. However, one of the things that we tend to forget are updates to our address or phone numbers.

One of the things that I personally overlooked after my move last year was making sure that my microchip information was current for Ginger. And guess what? It wasn’t. In all the shuffling and moving around, I had forgotten to take care of that detail.

Even with a microchip, it might not be enough. You never know when a pet could be lost or how far away they might wander. My parents are in a very rural location and each year they see countless dogs wander onto their property. Some have ID tags on and some do not. The pets may be microchipped, but with a veterinarian at least an hour’s drive away, the better option would be to have an ID tag with phone number on it. The dogs that had that were promptly returned. The ones without, they had to take to the shelter.

Losing a pet is traumatic and can put your family through a great deal of anxiety and grief. Make sure that your pets have legible tags with current information. And check in with your microchip provider to be sure your current phone and address are on file. We hope you never have to use either, but leashes and collars break. Be safe and make sure your pet has the best chance to be reunited with you in the event they become lost.