Every Day is Tag Day

The first Saturday in April is considered as Every Day is Tag Day or Tag Day.

It's sad when statistics show that missing pets rarely find their way home. About 10 million pets are lost or stolen in the United States each year, and more than 6 million animals reside in the nation's animal sanctuaries. Since dogs and cats in undocumented shelters are less likely to be reunited with their owners, identification can mean the difference between life and death for a best friend.

Every Day is Tag Day is created by American Humane, a nationwide effort, which unites thousands of animal control and care agencies, veterinarians and humane organizations with the common goal of encouraging pet owners to equip their pets with ID cards and/or microchips to maximize their chances of a safe return should they stray from their home or get lost.

It is required for all dogs and cats to wear collars with ID tags, rabies vaccination cards and city or county permits (if available). The ID card must have some important information such as the owner's name, address, phone number and the pet's name. Here are some other tips:

If you are traveling, temporarily tag your pet with the contact information of someone who knows how to contact you.

For cats, use a specially made safety collar that has a short elastic stitched on. They make it possible for the cat to escape if cat gets caught in window blinds, furniture, fences or other objects.

Tag your cat even if you never let it out. He can squeeze through an open door and quickly get lost in the neighborhood.

We also strongly recommend that all pet owners take extra security precautions when micro chipping their pets. The microchip acts as a permanent identification system that will always be with your pet. Nearly every animal shelter across the country routinely scans microchips for the presence of every animal on admission. Currently, most veterinary clinics have microchip scanners.

How do microchips work? Each chip is assigned only a unique ID that the chip scanner can read, which then matches the owner information in a comprehensive database. A microchip is only effective in reuniting a lost pet with its owner when the owner's contact information in the microchip database is correct. Therefore, it is important that you immediately register your pet's microchip with the appropriate database and keep your contact information up to date when you move house or get a new phone number.

Today and every day, make sure your pets are equipped in case they get separated from you. It can be heartbreaking to lose a pet, but taking these measures will ensure you're more likely to reunite with your four-legged family member.