Identification! That's right, identification. Do your dogs and cats have proper ID? Mine sometimes don't seem to know their own names, but I make sure that someone else can.

Face it, dogs and cats get loose all the time. I'm guessing that some of you may even have your animal because you found it running loose. A good example is our Molly. My wife and her daughter found Molly one winter day outside their doctors office on Milton hill. She was skinny and had icicles hanging from her muzzle and chin. They brought her home and we set about the task of meeting her needs and finding her owner. Easier said than done. She had no collar or tags and was not microchipped.

Well, we did the whole routine. We tried flyers, an ad in the local paper, and postings on Petfinder.com. As you can tell from the site, Molly is still with us and it has been 2 years. When Molly came to us, she had already been trained to sit, shake, lay down, roll-over and fetch. She was happy to run thru the entire routine, as fast as possible, anytime you looked at her for more than a few seconds. Molly had obviously been loved very much by her previous owners, and loved them too. Had she been wearing some type of ID, she might still be with them.

We know why Molly was loose. Molly is a runner. If a door or gate is left open for even a few seconds, she's off like a bullet from a gun. She has no regard for her own safety, and never looks back. We have been on a few dangerous and harrowing chases that would rival any of the latest hollywood action flicks! I had no idea a dog her size(45 lbs) could reach speeds of 25+ m.p.h.

Please, put a collar on your dog or cat. They may be a full time indoor animal, but do it anyway for their protection. I pray that you never lose your beloved pet, but the only way to give them a chance to be returned, is if they are carrying some ID. Would you send your child out for the evening without ID? Who would the ambulance driver call?

Here is what I suggest:

1. Put a collar on. (Remember, choke-chains are for training and walking only, NOT for daily wear or tie-outs EVER) Get a good sturdy collar that fits well. You should be able to fit two fingers comfortably under the collar, and it should turn freely. Cost is not an issue. Sufficient collars can be bought at the local Dollar Store/Tree even.

2. Tag it! Ask your vet where you can order an engraved tag from. Some of the jewelry shops on Main St. downtown have/engrave pet tags. Wal-Mart has a vending machine near the arcade that will engrave a tag for about 5 bucks. Put the pet's name and two phone numbers on it if possible. Putting the pet's name on will help the person who finds it to calm it down, and make it easier for them to control the pet. Nicer pet stores carry tags with fold out info pages or USB zip drives. You can always put the current rabies tag on, but I recommend keeping this with your records instead.

3. Microchipping is always an option, although it is not cost effective for most people. The "finder" has to find the chip in the dog, and then take them to a vet or the Animal Shelter to be read. I prefer they just call the number on the tag. Granted, tags can be lost, but microchips are invisible.

"Snookums doesn't like her collar.", "Fifi is upset by the jingly tag." Please remember that this is an issue of safety. It is never good to transfer your emotions to the dog, he/she is not wired for it. Any discomfort your pet displays when you first introduce a collar and tag, will fade quickly, especially if you ignore it.

You have heard what I suggest, now here is what I use (pictured above):

On Madison's hilltop there is a store called Clifty Animal Supply. They are a growing, family owned, garden/farm/animal supply store with all kinds of great plants and accessories for your landscaping needs. They also have a convenient drive-thru for animal feed. From HUGE bags of cat litter to horse feed, they have it all. In the drive-thru barn they sell collars for dogs. They sell an exremely durable nylon reflective collar there for about 9 bucks. It has a ring mounted flat in the collar that won't catch on fences or brush (meant for hunting dogs). The best part: they engrave three lines on a brass tag and rivet it FLAT onto the collar, included in the price. No jingly-jangly, nothing to come off and lose. Hands down, the best collar I have EVER seen, and a price that fits my five dog budget.

One more tip for peace of mind: Take some good "mug-shots" of your pet and store them away. Again, being prepared will not only help your pet be returned, but will reduce your guilt and stress if it happens. I even have "Lost Dog" fliers already made up in my computer complete with descriptions, pictures, and contact info, ready to print the moment a pet turns up missing.

Like I said, I pray that you never have to feel the loss and pain of a runaway pet. If you properly ID your pet, you are seriously increasing the chances of their return, should it happen to you.

Prepare for the worst and strive for the best.

God Bless,

Allen Anderson