National PET ID Week is upon us and it’s something we’re incredibly passionate about here at The Stately Hound.
Whilst certainly no one likes to think about it, the truth is that every owner should, at the very least, be prepared for a lost pet and although we would all like to think that our dogs are the most well behaved, a loud noise, such as a car backfiring, can be enough to spook them and make them run off unexpectedly looking for a safe space.
On average, a staggering 5 million animals go into shelter each year and anywhere between 40 - 60% are lost pets. So it’s vital to get those animals back to their homes in order to free up spaces for truly homeless animals.
Fortunately, there is a simple solution… THE PET ID TAG!
Here at The Stately Hound, our tags can add a streak of sophistication to your dog with lots of people screaming at how beautiful they are (because of course!).
But most importantly, it is also required by law to have them, both in the UK and USA. Plus it can also amount to a hefty fine if you don’t have one!
Read on to find out all the information for both the UK and the USA.
UK LEGISLATION:
In order to adhere to the requirements of the Control of Dogs Order of 1992, it states that ‘any dog in a public place should wear the name and address of the owner either inscribed on the collar or a nameplate or disc attached to it.
Many people believe that having their dogs microchipped is enough and therefore they don’t require the Pet ID tag. But the reality is that one does not cancel the other and it’s vital to have both in order to give your best friend the greatest chance of being returned to you should they ever go missing.
Additionally, if your beloved dog doesn’t have both of these, you can incur a fine of up to £5000. Therefore it makes sense both for your pet and financially to ensure they are well-identified!
Here’s a suggested example of what is required on an ID dog tag:
A Barker 52
PAW 01S
07010 123456 (optional)
OR
A Barker
52 Woof Street
PAW 01S
07010 123456 (optional)
Whilst your telephone number is only optional, we would highly recommend it so that you can be reached as soon as possible.
USA LEGISLATION:
Much the same as in the UK it’s important to ensure that your dog has both an ID tag and has been microchipped as well as the rabies vaccination tags and appropriate city/county licenses (where applicable).
Above all else, it is vital to ensure that the information provided on your tags and microchip has been updated with the most recent contact details.
To see our colection of Pet ID Tags that we can offer you. Take a look here