ID is key.

Yes! It is common for an otherwise indoor animal to escape outside and run away in fear. Therefore, all indoor animals should have a collar or some other type of identification on at all times. Identification information should include the animal's name and the owner's home phone number and address.  This information can lead to the quick return of your pet.

Collars are not the only means of providing an animal with identification. Microchipping, which involves placing a tiny chip under the skin between the shoulder blades, is becoming quite popular. When a lost animal is picked up or brought into a veterinary hospital, humane society, or animal shelter, a scanner is used to detect the presence of a microchip; the identification information contained within the chip will appear on the scanner's screen. These microchips can be placed by your veterinarian, and are a great way of permanently identifying an animal. A collar is still recommended, however, in case the pet is found by someone who does not have access to a scanner.

08/19/05