Have your name, address and telephone number engraved on a tag and make sure your pet wears it on its collar at all times.
Keep a clear colour photograph of your pet and a list of its distinguishing marks.
If your pet is missing, search the neighbourhood and call the local police stations, animal shelters and vet surgeries. You can also put up notices with a photo and description, and check the lost-and-found section of the local newspaper. If your pet is a thorough-bred, contact local pedigree clubs; they may have their own rescue committees.
If you find a pet with a collar but no address, contact the police and local animal shelters in case the owner has notified them, and check local newspapers for notices. Insert a notice of your own, describing the pet but leaving out a detail that only the owner will know.
The latest in pet identification is a microchip implant under the skin of your pet, which contains a number unique to your animal. This number is put on a national register along with your details, so that even if your pet loses its collar, it can be identified and returned to you. The process is painless for the pet and could save time for every-one involved.
At present, all police stations and dogs' homes possess the apparatus necessary to scan the microchip and reveal the number. A growing number of vet surgeries also have scanners, so if your pet is found collarless, there is a good chance it will be returned to you.
