The Importance of Identification

Having your pet lost can be unnerving. Without identification it is difficult to reunite owners and their pets.

Even if your pet normally does not leave your property, there are times like the October 2003 fires, when animals become separated from their owners. At times like this your pet needs to have identification attached to his/her collar or a microchip ID.

Licensing your dog is mandated by law and therefore your dog should wear a license tag at all times.

For cats, it is recommended that they wear an ID tag with a breakaway collar.

For all pets we recommend getting a microchip ID. Microchips are a permanent form of identification that when scanned by a microchip scanner identifies your pet with a unique ID number. It is about the size of a grain of rice and is inserted just below the skin between your pet's shoulder blades. Having a microchip ID allows shelters and veterinarians to identify your pet, obtain owner information from the microchip data base, and ultimately reunite the pet with its owner.

Keeping identification on your pet at all times will greatly increase the likelihood of having your pet returned to you if he or she strays away from home.

You can purchase a microchip ID and personalized, metal ID tags for your pets at the Escondido Humane Society.

The Escondido Humane Society periodically holds Equine Microchip Clinics. Contact Chuck Dotson to be placed on a list to be contacted when the next clinic is scheduled.