Hello! Here’s a reminder to update your contact information on your dog’s tags or collars – and with your dog’s microchip registry. Have you moved? Changed phone numbers? Is there a number that you could add to the registry as a backup?
Two stories from this week have inspired this reminder:
I took a siesta the other day (that sounds cooler than a nap, right?). When I woke up, I looked at my phone and saw six missed calls from one out-of-the-area area code and three missed calls from another number in that same area code. As I mulled over that information, the phone started flashing (I had the ringer off) with an incoming call from one of those numbers. Shoot! What is happening? I answered with trepidation.
A very upset-sounding person responded, “I have your dog here, and it was in a fight, and it may have taken the other dog’s EYE out!”
I jumped out of bed and dashed into the living room. Both of my dogs looked up from their respective couches, where THEY were having a siesta. Whew!
I said, “I live in Oroville, and both of my dogs are with me. But I work with several rescues and I often send dogs that I fostered to their new homes with collars that have my number stitched on them… Does this dog have a collar with my phone number?”
Long story short, that was exactly the case. As the person described the dog, I remembered what dog they were describing. I was able to pull up that dog’s owner’s information and send them HIS number. It turned out that he had left the dog with his parents, the dog had escaped their yard and wandered into some other dog’s yard, and a fight ensued. Thank goodness, as it turned out, the dog who had been injured just had sand in his eye. Both dogs were ok, and the dog who was wearing the collar with my number on it was returned to his owner’s parents.
I suggested to his owner, “Hey, it’s been about 18 months… maybe you should get your dog a collar with YOUR number on it? And if your dog stays with your parents regularly, maybe get him a tag with THEIR number on it, for him to wear when he’s there?”
Backup or alternative contact numbers are critical. I just read an account of a young man who left his service dog in his car at a gas station, with the car and the air conditioning turned on. Someone jumped into the car and drove away, stealing the young man’s car and dog. The dog was turned loose many miles away and was picked up by a shelter; shelter staffers called the number on the dog’s tags, but alas, the owner couldn’t get those calls for a few panicky days, because his cell phone was also stolen.
Fortunately, he finally was able to get the messages and the dog was returned, but what if it had been in an area where the dogs don’t have much time in a shelter before the unthinkable? So scary to contemplate.
MANY of us need to put a tag with a backup number on our dog’s collar. It occurred to me one day as I was driving with my dogs: If we got into an accident and I was killed and my dogs survived, who would the first responders call? Only MY number is on my dogs’ collars! Though I’m not a fan of tags (hence my large collection of collars with my number stitched into them), I’m having some tags made with my husband’s and my son’s number engraved on them, to use when I am driving with my dogs. Just in case!
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We travel a lot in our RV and tow a car. While we often have both our dogs in the car with us when we see the sights, we sometimes leave them in the RV alone. In addition to having ICE (in case of emergency) numbers on our phones, we have the following in our wallets next to our ID cards in case we are in an accident:
In case of emergency notify:
Spouse – [name] Ph. [phone #]
We live in our RV & are currently at this campground:
[campground name, address]
Our RV is a 28’ Thor Quantum
Florida license plate [license plate #]
If our 2 Chihuahuas (Mindy and Suzie) are not with us, they are in the RV. Please arrange care for them ASAP.
Please notify: [contact 1 name, phone]
Please notify: [contact 2 name, phone]
We also keep the same information in the glove compartment of the car. Of course, the important part is to remember to update the information whenever you go to a different campground.
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I realize that I am a little late in replying to this article, but I am hoping that Nancy, the Editor will see this and have a recommendation. Beside having updated tags on collars, can you tell me which organization the Whole Dog Journal recommends for microchip registry?
My dog has a medical tag (ordered from Etsy) with Addison’s Disease — Needs meds! printed on the front. On the reverse, it has her Home Again microchip number and Home Again phone number as well as my husband’s and my own cell phone numbers. At the Home Again website, her medical instructions and vet can be found as well as two contacts to call in the event I and my husband are in an accident and cannot respond. I have reminders on my calendar every 6 months to check the info and update if necessary. Since we RV several months out of the year, I also use those inexpensive plastic tags used to write in information (from the hardware store, for key chains). I can put temporary campground information with dates and site number on these and change the info every time we change locations. So far, so good!
Good information to have is “Reward” followed by 2 phone numbers. I used to have little orange slide on pockets on my dog’s collars, (I need to look for these again!) I had a small laminated typed note giving my contact info, stating a reward for return of this dog, stating if this dog is found injured, I will guarantee payment to any vet.
Thanks – Very useful info in your Article & also in the comments