Safety & Equipment - Identification

Finding an effective and practical way to identify dogs is very important for multiple reasons. Dogs that can be easily identified no matter where they wander or stray will make getting dogs back to their owners much easier, as well as avoid the thousands of lost dogs that have to be destroyed every year because they cannot be identified or re-homed through shelters. Currently dogs are supposed to wear a tag at all times, but tags and collars can be lost which makes the dog unable to be identified.

There are many different ways to identify a dog currently used. Some are very high tech and require specialised equipment to read the identification, whereas others have been in use for many years.

Dogs, just like humans, have unique DNA. Breeders have been using DNA testing for many years to confirm lineage and to identify dogs from various breeders and pedigrees. This process is costly and can only be completed in specific laboratories and may people would not know to DNA test a lost dog, nor do shelters or rescues use this procedure. In addition not all lines or pedigrees have been DNA tested and mapped, although more comprehensive databases are being developed every year. Often DNA identification is used as a final test in locating or confirming the identification of purebred and championship dogs that have been lost or stolen.

A microchip is a small, individually identified computer chip that is injected under the skin of a dog for identification using a specialized hypodermic needle. It is a simple and painless process that is completed in a vet's office or even in your own home and requires no anesthesia or other treatment. Once injected the minuscule chip is held in place by the connective tissue under the skin and does not move about in the dog's body as many people mistakenly believe. Since the chip is smaller than a grain of rice it cannot be felt under the skin either, so it is virtually undetectable without the equipment to read the information from the chip. The chip is inserted on the dogs upper back, lower neck region just between the shoulder blades.

In addition to having the chip implanted the owner must then complete all the paper that will be entered into the database. The database will allow any shelter, RSPCA or rescue to immediately locate you should the dog be lost or stolen and turned into a vet, shelter or other animal protection agency. It is important to contact the database registry should you move or your information change in anyway.

The dog will then be required to wear a small tag, similar to an identification tag that indicates that the pet has been microchipped. This will guarantee that the vet or receiving agency checks the dog for microchips, but they are supposed to do so even if the dog is not wearing the tag or comes in without a collar.

Both the Dog Trust and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) advocate the use of microchipping in dogs and cats, and microchip all dogs and cats that are re-homed through the agency.

The registry currently used by the RSCPA and most other agencies is PetLog. They maintain the database and will continually update address changes all for the one time fee of microchipping. The price of microchipping varies, but is generally between £20 and £75 depending on where it is done. The Dog Trust and the RSPCA offer special reduced rate programs that owners may qualify for.

Tattooing is one of the oldest forms of dog identification and has been used for many years to track both pedigree and non-pedigree animals. The National Dog Tattoo Register or NDTR is the largest tattooing organisation in the United Kingdom. There are many different agencies that offer tattooing services through the NDTR and their website offers locations and services. PetLog also will register tattooed dogs so it is possible to have a tattooed dog in more than one database at a very low cost.

Tattooing can be done to dogs of any age, including puppies. Basically it is done the same as human tattooing. A small series of very fine needles are used to prick the surface of the skin in a particular pattern of numbers and letters unique to each dog. A thin layer of ink is then applied and the excess wiped off. The procedure is not that painful for the dog and there is no need to anesthatise the dog for the tattoo. It is most likely to be similar in sensation to a human tattoo or ear piercing, which is also done without numbing. The result is a blue tattoo that is clearly visible inside of the ear. The tattoo makes lost dogs easy to track down as well as it makes it easier to identify stolen animals. Generally all dogs can be tattooed unless they have very dark skin and the tattoo ink cannot be seen.

The price of tattooing varies from about £7 for puppies up to about £20 for adult dogs. This is a one-time process and updates to your information in the NDTR are free after the tattooing process is complete. Litters can also be tattooed by the breeders and then the registration transferred to the new owner with a signed paper by the breeder and buyer.

All dogs are required to wear a collar and tag that clearly identifies contact information in the event that the dog gets lost. The problem with collars and tags seems obvious, it is very easy to simply remove the collar and tag and the dog is unidentified. Most breeders do not rely on tags and collars, and most highly recommend microchipping and DNA testing.

Many people that have mixed breed puppies don't complete microchipping or tattooing, rather they rely on tags and collars. At the very least the tag should have the dog's name, a working and correct phone number and perhaps an address. For security reasons many people are uncomfortable in putting their address on the tag, but they can put the vets information on the tag provided they offer a twenty-four hour service.

Identification for dogs is very important for several reasons. The biggest reason is obvious - it is very important to most owners to locate and get back their beloved pets in the shortest amount of time. Not only does this reduce stress for the owner, but it also greatly reduces the stress to the dog, that is often very traumatised by being separate from their family.

In addition identifying dogs is very important for pedigree and purebred breeders. Most purebred championship lines are now relying on both microchipping as well as DNA identification before agreeing to use breeding stock in their programs. Unfortunately there has always been an issue with disreputable breeders passing dogs off as from a particular lineage and pedigree. With DNA testing and microchipping that possibility is all but eliminated, making breeding foundation stock much stronger. DNA testing can also be used in other databases such as working with various genetic conditions and tracing the prevalence in various breeds and lines.

The other factor to consider is that most dogs that are lost do travel a fair distance, especially if they are roaming or wandering with other dogs. A microchipped dog can even be located and returned from another country, as most countries now use microchipping for pets. All countries that microchip automatically scan the dogs when they come into shelters and rescues, even if they are not wearing a collar or a microchipping tag. It is unlikely that a dog would happen to be found by someone in your neighbourhood that would know your pet, and there are usually too many vet centres, rescues and shelters in large centres for you to be able to call. In addition, trying to describe your dog over the phone isn't easy, especially if he or she is a common breed with standard colours.

Price is often considered a factor in why people don't tattoo or microchip their dog. There are many different programs offered by the RSPCA and the Dog Trust to provide low cost programmes to people with limited income or other considerations. Your local vet may be aware of other programmes offered within the community from various organisations that are offering microchipping or tattooing clinics to provide long tern identifications for dogs in a specific area. Dogs on farms, in the country or in small towns should also be permanently identified by microchipping or tattooing. Often farm dogs become lost or stolen, just like dogs in towns and cities.

Identifying dogs and keeping information up to date on the various databases is the responsibility of a caring and loving pet owner. While it does require a bit of effort and more than a bit of paperwork it is well worth the effort if your dog ever becomes lost or stolen. A few minutes of your time and small microchipping or tattooing fee is all that is required to keep your dog as safe as possible if he or she is ever separated from the family.