Nuffnang

Monday, June 9, 2008

Name Tag May Prevent Heartache

Mum & I came across this notice when we went for our walk. For dog lovers, losing a dog is traumatic as the dog is very much part of the family. As you know, I like to go on little adventures when my humans are not home. Read about it on Sit, Look Left, Look Right, OK and Rainy Day Adventures. So, my humans worry all the time about me getting lost.

Let me also share with you a story about another lost dog. A few years ago, we rescued a Daschund which was wondering around the suburb. We were out in the garden, enjoying a lazy evening when we saw a Chocolate-coloured Daschund roaming the street. My humans thought that it was Kit, a dog that lived on the next street. So, dad decided to get hold of Kit and return him to his human. Of course, Kit ran away and dad had to chase him. Since dad had longer legs, he managed to out-run Kit and caught hold of him. When we brought Kit back to his human, we discovered the real Kit in his house. So, the Daschund we thought was Kit, wasn't Kit after all! (Pretty confusing, huh?)

What do we do next? The Daschund had no tag. We were fairly certain that there were no other Daschunds living nearby coz we know all the dogs around our street (we walk around the neighbourhood a lot). My humans made some "Found Dog" signs and posted it around the neighbourhood. That night, "Kit who wasn't Kit" spent the night with us. He was a jealous chap and used to nudge his way forward to get attention from my humans. I didn't like him one bit but for the sake of my humans tolerated him. Plus, he kept peeing all over the front porch (coz he's a boy dog), so my humans had to keep cleaning it. (I've been trained to pee in the garden).

We continued to ask around. Finally, a neighbour saw a Lost Dog sign in the park and figured that our found dog and the lost dog could be one and the same. It was! That night, there was a happy reunion between "Kit who wasn't Kit" and his human. Turned out that the Daschund lived about 4 kms away and would have crossed the very busy 4-lane road (the same one I used to go to gramps' house) to get to where we lived. This little wanderer Daschund loves to roam around (sounds like me!) and it wasn't the first time he went missing.

Anyway, after that incident, my humans immediately got me a name tag and inscribed their phone numbers. They figured that if I ever go on my adventures (despite the precautions taken to prevent me from climbing out of our house), at least if some kind soul found me, they would be able to contact my humans. Of course, it doesn't prevent me from being stolen or kept for themselves. But, you know, there are enough good people in this world who would do the right thing. So humans, get a tag for your doggies. Better to be safe than sorry.

20 comments:

Xsara and Tani said...

I agree, we have a very nice tag and it looks pretty cool - in addition to being very useful. Unfortunately all the doggy-missing stories don't end as nicely as your fake-kit story. that dachshund was a very lucky fellow, I hope his people considered getting a tag in case he went missing again!

Lorenza said...

Hi, Kess!
The same happened to us one day. We found a dachshund who was lost. We walked around our neighborhood until he recognized his house. His owner was crying when we talked to her and she promised to get a tag for him.
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Amber-Mae said...

Glad that Kit was reunited! We have our own tags too but it's kinda like fading off & sometimes we hardly wear our collars (the tags are attached to our collars) but after reading this, I think we'll get more tags & attach them to our choke chains too becoz we're wearing choke chains all the time.

Butt shakes,
Solid Gold Dancer

Sugar the Beagle said...

It's really lucky of Kit to reunite with their owners. Many dogs who are lost, often ended up as victims of abuse and motor accidents.

My humans used to wear a collar for me with a tag all the time, but I always ended up scratching myself a lot. Moreover, it makes my fur standing in an awkward way (and it still does). Thus my owners only wear a choke chain with a tag when we step out of the house.

Thankfully I was micro chipped (as requested by the local authorities), thus I guess/hope that things wouldn't be as bad if I were to get lost one day *touch wood*

My new fur-bling, Posh, is also scheduled for a microchip the week after next.

Sweet Licks,
Sugar

River said...

I'm glad the story had a happy ending. We beagles are terrible for roaming as you know! So my mom has tags on us and the younger ones have microchips.

love & wags,
River

Kess And Her Mama said...

Hi Xsara, Never did meet "Kit" again. I hope they did coz it wasn't the first time he wandered off.

Kess And Her Mama said...

Lorenza,I'm glad you reunited the daschund with his owner. Power to the tag!

Kess And Her Mama said...

Amber, Glad you're getting new tags. Mine is on my chain too.

Kess And Her Mama said...

Hi Sugar, Glad you're back. As long as you're not a wanderer like me, you should be ok. I'm microchipped too but not everyone is aware of the microchip and may not think about going to the vet to read the chip if they find a lost dog.

Kess And Her Mama said...

River, your humans know us beagles well. Good on them for getting you and your siblings tags and chips.

Ben & Darling said...

Yeah, you are right. Its always good to have a name tag & contact.

Mom got us the collar with name & contact on it coz I tend to tear off the tag. Hehe

slurpy licks,
BenBen

Kess And Her Mama said...

Hi Ben Ben, That works too.

Thor and Jack said...

Kess,
I agree with you. The tag with name and contact is very important for us. Glad that dachshund was reunited with your family!

Love and licks
Thor

Sweet Jasmine said...

Glad to know you have a tag on...but that is still no reason to wonder in case your kidnapper likes to keep you for himself.

JAZZ AND DIXIE said...

Hi Kess,
We often see posters up around our neighbourhood too and feel sorry for all those lost pups. Mum had a beautiful name tag engraved for me but the day after she gave it to me I lost it!! We can't escape from our apartment unless we learn to fly but mum got us microchipped. She is worried if we ever have an earthquake here and get lost. Hopefully some kind person would find us and return us to mum and dad. I'm glad your dachshund story ended well.
Lix
J&D

Unknown said...

Oh yes, always wear your tags! We ordered ours online and they have both our cellphone numbers. We also have Booker microchipped -- he is registered at petfinder.com and has his own I.D. card! I get "lost pet" emails everyday from petfinder. They make me sad.

Kess And Her Mama said...

Hi Thor, Glad you agree.

Kess And Her Mama said...

Sweet Jasmine, Mum is in total agreement with you. She hopes that I'll stop wandering.

Kess And Her Mama said...

J&D, Sorry to hear abt yr lost tag. We don't hv earthquake in M'sia. Must be scary. Good to know u're chipped. PS. Am really interested to hear what it's like living in an apartment. Maybe you can write a post about it.

Kess And Her Mama said...

Hi Anne & Booker, Glad you dropped by. Yes, it is very sad to read abt lost dogs. It's great there is the pet finder service in the US. We don't have one in M'sia.

Thanks for signing my guest book.