Identification

by Vicki Chaney

        Your puppy should wear a buckle collar and an identification tag at all times.  Do not attach tags to a slip or "choke" collar.  The identification tag can be purchased at any pet shop.  It should have your address and phone number, and possibly the phone number of a close friend or relative.  Once your puppy is licensed (required after he's four months old) he should wear his license tag as well.  Your puppy's everyday collar should be checked often for proper fit, as puppies grow quickly.

        It is important that your puppy always wear his collar and tags.  Accidents can happen; your puppy could be lost or stolen, or there could be a disaster that would separate you from your puppy.  Your puppy's identification tags may be his only chance of being returned to you.

        Many pet owners, and most show dog owners have their dogs tattooed with a special registration number.  The tattoo is painless and permanent, and is placed on the inner thigh or the inside of the ear.  Tattooing is legal proof of ownership.  Another option is to have your dog microchipped by you vet.  The microchip is placed under the skin on the back of the neck between the shoulder blades. The cost for microchipping varies, but $27.00 is what my local vet charges. The tattoo or microchip number is recorded with a national registry, staffed 24 hours a day.

        If you are interested in tattooing you can call (562) 421-6449 for more information on this type of identification, or for microchip identification contact your local vet.