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1 April 2000, From the American Humane Association
Keeping Track of Your Pet
Whether lost or stolen, losing a pet is an agonizing experience. Yet most people fail to put any kind of identification on their pets to ensure their safe return home. In fact, only about 16% of lost dogs and 2% of lost cats at shelters are ever reunited with their owners.
An ID tag on your pet's collar is essential, since anyone can use it to get your pet home. The tag should include your name, address, phone number, and the pet's name. If you're willing to pay a reward, then put the word "reward" on the tag, too. Put the number of a friend on another tag if you're traveling.
Tattooing is a permanent ID system that involves marking pertinent information on the skin of the pet. The finder must call a database and use the code tattooed on your pet to get your current address and phone number. This is an invaluable ID if your pet should be stolen for research, since laboratories will instantly know that your pet was not abandoned.
Implanting a microchip- a tiny electronic capsule- under a pet's skin enables anyone with a scanner (like many animal care and control agencies, veterinary clinics, and research labs) to quickly identify a code which, when the database is called, will identify you as the owner. The Humane Society of Charles County provides the opportunity to have pets microchipped during many of their rabies clinics. Check the "What's New" section of the home page for rabies clinics announcements.
However, both tattooing and microchipping only work if you keep the information stored in the database current.
In addition to ID methods on your pets, keep clear photos of them handy, along with a written description of their appearance. This will aid you and others in searching for your lost friend. A little bit of effort can save a lot of heartache.