True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost.
---Charles Caleb Colton

Having your companion animal wear identification is important for minimizing the chances of theft or permanent loss. Lost or stolen pets can end up in research laboratories. The likelihood of this happening is remote, and in fact decreasing these days, but an animal who is easily identified is less likely to suffer this fate. An identification tag is a lost pet's ticket home. Equipping your animal with identification won't guarantee that he or she won't fall into the wrong hands, but it can help.

Although a collar with an identification tag is still the first line of defense, some argue that tattoos or even microchip implants are the best way to ensure the safety of your companion animal. Concerned laboratory animal facilities will look for tattoos and microchips and make an effort to track down the animal's guardian. For more information about these types of identification, ask The HSUS for a copy of the September/October 1996 issue of Animal Sheltering magazine (301-548-7775; e-mail: asm@hsus.org).