Losing your dog could be a very sad experience. Dogs are more than just pets; they are also our guardians and our companions. It is said that dogs are more loyal than other animals and are in fact, even more loyal than most of us; hence, a dog is considered as mans best friend.

No matter how we try to keep our dogs always within sight, however, they sometimes go astray. Chances are, without any form of identification, they may not be returned by those who find them and they might be gone for good. This is where the importance of a dog identification tag comes in. Since your dog cannot speak for himself, its dog identification tag shall tell the finder where to return your lost dog.

A typical dog identification tag is a flat metal tag attached to the collar, chain, rope or harness worn by the dog around its neck. It usually displays the name of the owner, his contact number or his address. Its used to easily and quickly notify the owner when the dog is found.

In UK, affixing a dog identification tag on the dogs collar is a legal duty. A Control of Dog Order was issued in 1992 which required all dog owners to fix on their dog a collar with a dog identification tag on it whenever it is in public places such as a public road or a public resort. The dog identification tag must have pertinent information such as the name of the dog, and the name and address of the owner so the dog can be easily and quickly returned to the owner when lost. These pieces of information may also be engraved on the collar itself or on a plate attached to the collar. A violation of such law would cost you 2,000.

There are also exemptions to the Control of Dog Order of 1992. Not covered by the legislation are the following:

a. dogs that are officially used on by armed forces, HM Customs & Excise or the police
b. dogs that are used in sport events
c. dogs that are used in capturing and destroying vermin
d. dogs that are used to drive or tend sheep
e. dogs that are used by blind people to guide them
f. dogs that are used in rescuing in the event of emergencies

In the US, using dog identification tags is not obligatory; however, many dog-friendly organizations recommend the use of such tag. Moreover, most Americans, dog lovers as they are (American Veterinary Medical Association 54% of all households in the US have at least one pet dog; 47% of them consider their pets as members of the family), feel and understand the need of using dog identification tags.

As an alternative to dog identification tags, some dog owners prefer to have their dogs tattooed as collars and dog id tags may also be lost. Today, with the emergence and advancement of RFID technology, its already possible to implant microchip with control numbers under the dogs skin. This makes tracking for a lost dog easier and faster.