PSA: Get a tag and chip on your FREAKING DOG ALREADY!

[ZaneNBK]

For the second time in the last 4-5 months or so I found a dog running around the neighborhood with no tag. It was soaked, dirty and running towards moving vehicles so I picked it up. Took it to the vet and surprise, no chip.

Both dogs were (or appeared to be) purebred, one was definitely a pure Corgi and the new one looked to be pure Cocker Spaniel. How the fuck do you pay $500-$1000 for a purebred dog (or hell, get any dog) and decide that $3 for a tag with your phone number is just too much effort. Hell, even $45 or so for the microchip? That's less than the fine you'll pay if you care enough to drag your ass to the shelter to look for your dog.

The first one we kept for a night or two and someone local adopted it. This last one I kept just long enough to dry it off before taking it to the vet to check for the chip and then the shelter right after. I told them to call me if no-one claims or adopts it, but I seriously doubt a friendly and cute cocker spaniel that's decently groomed will have a problem finding a new family.

 

[JManInPhoenix]

agree. We had our pup chipped at her first vet visit and got her tag not longer after.

 

[veri745]

My local shelter chips and spays/neuters all dogs that come in before they will adopt them out. Very handy to have that done before adopting.

I just adopted a dog a couple months ago.

 

[Mixolydian]

Although not a dog, my cat is an outdoor cat. She has a collar, but no tag. The tags are just too fucking big/bulky. She does have a microchip though.

 

[SunnyD]

Or better yet, take an active interest in your pets instead of just tying them up outside for hours on end because you can't be bothered to take care of them properly. Then situations like this generally won't happen.

 

[Pulsar]

Although not a dog, my cat is an outdoor cat. She has a collar, but no tag. The tags are just too fucking big/bulky. She does have a microchip though.

An 'outdoor' cat?

99% of the time (even when rural), that means you've got a cat running around pissing on other people's houses (if it's a tom), pooping in their yards, killing random birds and other small animals....

I hate 'outdoor' cats, and have had no end of problems with them. Yet the owners who can't be bothered to keep them on their own property would get very, very upset if I shot them.

At least tell me your cat is fixed so it isn't running around making kittens.

 

[Pulsar]

Or better yet, take an active interest in your pets instead of just tying them up outside for hours on end because you can't be bothered to take care of them properly. Then situations like this generally won't happen.

Do you have pets? Because even the most loved and well cared for pet can dig under a fence when you're not looking, or go THROUGH an electric underground fence if they are excited enough, or have their dog-run wire break.

 

[Mixolydian]

An 'outdoor' cat?

99% of the time (even when rural), that means you've got a cat running around pissing on other people's houses (if it's a tom), pooping in their yards, killing random birds and other small animals....

I hate 'outdoor' cats, and have had no end of problems with them. Yet the owners who can't be bothered to keep them on their own property would get very, very upset if I shot them.

At least tell me your cat is fixed so it isn't running around making kittens.

My cat rarely if ever leaves the yard (fenced). She likes to explore the yard and hunt little critters. But as she gets older she doesn't want to be outside as much.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Or better yet, take an active interest in your pets instead of just tying them up outside for hours on end because you can't be bothered to take care of them properly. Then situations like this generally won't happen.

I think thats an unfair argument.
Its amazing how quickly a dog can disappear if it accidentally looses its leash or escapes the yard. They are dumb mutts that will chase a wild hare 10 blocks before realizing "Oh shit, Im lost". Even the most loved dogs can go missing quickly.

The most responsible thing to do as an owner is to tag and chip.

 

[SunnyD]

Do you have pets? Because even the most loved and well cared for pet can dig under a fence when you're not looking, or go THROUGH an electric underground fence if they are excited enough, or have their dog-run wire break.

Yes I do. Bolded your problem. Pay attention to your pets, spend time with them as you would a small child. Do not leave them unattended for periods of time.

I think thats an unfair argument.
Its amazing how quickly a dog can disappear if it accidentally looses its leash or escapes the yard. They are dumb mutts that will chase a wild hare 10 blocks before realizing "Oh shit, Im lost". Even the most loved dogs can go missing quickly.

The most responsible thing to do as an owner is to tag and chip.

I agree with you on this count. And I might be jaded to have been around dogs easy to train and smart enough to absorb said training and always stop what miscreant behavior they were doing on at least the second time they were called.

Yes, there are some dogs that will run regardless given the right set of circumstances.

And yes, I think all dogs should have tags at the very least. But then again I also think that most people should be required to be licensed before being allowed to care for a plant, let alone an animal or even another human being.

 

[Pulsar]

My cat rarely if ever leaves the yard (fenced). She likes to explore the yard and hunt little critters. But as she gets older she doesn't want to be outside as much.

Now that's the type of outdoor cat I can live with.

I went 3 years with a next door neighbor that had an unfixed cat (tom). The fucking thing kept spraying around my basement windows and my basement stunk because of it. Repeated requests didn't help, and call to the city went unanswered. I was seriously considering more drastic measures but ended up moving out to the country.

Now I've got a neighbor 1/2 mile away who keeps a dozen or more 'outdoor' cats for 'rodent' control. Yet they're constantly in my yard killing Kildeer and bunny babies. A live trap and a trip to the pound is coming soon, since none have tags.

I can't stand people who don't take care of their animals.

 

[Pulsar]

But then again I also think that most people should be required to be licensed before being allowed to care for a plant, let alone an animal or even another human being.

QFT.