~ Fostering Love, One Hound At A Time ~
ID Tags: an Essential Item
there are so many dog owners out there that do not realise that it is a legal requiment for dogs to wear an ID tag, and what should be on them, when in public.
Did you know that your dog must wear a collar with up-to-date owner contact details attached?
Even if you walk your dog on a harness, they must still wear a collar with identification under The Control Of Dogs Order 1992. If your dog is caught without one, you can be hit with a fine up to £5000!
This is in addition to an up-to-date microchip; you can’t have just one or the other!
Every day we see people out with their dogs in collars without tags or without collars at all! Worse still, they’re off lead! It’s truly terrifying how many people do not know the basic legal requirements that come hand in hand with responsible dog ownership.
Legal ramifications aside, the main purpose of having contact details on your hound is that if for any reason they run off whoever finds them will be able to quickly read the tag and reunite them with you! Otherwise, you may have to go through all the rigmarole of trying to get your dog back from the dog warden because it’s been ceased as a stray without identification! This process can cause unnecessary stress for the dog…and you!
If you are concerned about dangling dog tags getting caught on things when they’re running around or inevitably sticking their heads into bushes, there are alternatives. You can have your details embroidered directly onto the collar, or there are engravable flat tags available.
Should you be sitting there thinking oops, we should probably get a tag made for the dog, here’s what you need to know.
Firstly, do not have your dogs name on the tag. If they got lost, someone could claim they own them by “knowing” their name!
Your tag should have the following details:
- Your surname
- House number/name and post code
- Contact telephone number (ideally two!)
These details often fit onto one side of a tag, allowing you to add further details onto the back such as ‘I am microchipped’ or ‘medical alert’. Such comments on the dog tag can discourage people from stealing your dog should they find them running loose.
Dog tags can be bought and engraved at most key cutting businesses, pet shops or ordered online. One of the best, and most indestructible, tags we have seen that we 100% recommend are the Red Dingo Dog Tags. They will stay on the collar regardless of what trouble your hound gets itself into!