Millions of dogs and cats are taken to animal shelters as strays each year — but only about 15 percent of dogs and 2 percent of cats who end up in shelters without an ID tag or microchip are reunited with their owners, according to the American Humane

Why? Because their owners failed to put identification on their animals. Yet even the most responsible pet owners can be accidentally or unexpectedly separated from their pets.

That’s why DogOscopes celebrates National Pet ID Week (April 18-24, 2010) to encourage all pet owners to tag and microchip their companion animals.

Here is a short and easy check list of some things you can do to help keep your pet safe:
- Take a picture of your dog. Right now. Not only is it important to have a recent photo of your dog, but you should make sure that it is stored online somewhere, so that you can access it from anywhere at any time, if you should need to print up posters or show people what your dog looks like.
- Get your dog microchipped. Every vet’s office will now do it for you, so what are you waiting for? -
- Make a contact list for your pet. Take a few minutes to write down the names of people who know your dog well. This should not only include friends and family members, but people who see your dog every day, like the dog walker or friends at the dog park. Then, make sure that you have a current phone number and email address for everyone on the list, and make sure that they have yours.
- Register with a pet ID and recovery service. While having an ID tag on your pet is a great start, you should make sure that your ID tag is connected to an online pet ID and recovery service, so that your up-to-date contact information is always easily accessible to the finder of your pet.

DogOscopes has the perfect pet identification solution to meet your needs and keep your pet safe.