A dog identification tag is absolutely necessary to care for the safety and protection of your dog. Dogs love to run and play in the outdoors, and sometimes they play dangerous, or forget to come home.

Even if you keep your dog supervised at all time and don't let him go out alone, nonetheless you should still get him a dog identification tag since the chances are, sooner or later he will run out unsupervised.

All of our dogs have tags. Even the Newfoundland had a tag, even though she was so old she bare made it from the family room to the backyard to do her business and then back to her spot indoors.

Dogs are always waiting for the chance to sneak out by themselves so that they can explore and meet other dogs. Sometimes the moment I open the door, my sister's Cocker Spaniel, Danny, runs out yipping and yapping down the street. It can take hours to get him to come home again, and sometimes she just has to give up and trust that he will come home by himself. He always does.

So what would happen if he were to be hit by a car and injured, or perhaps be picked up by animal control, or get into a fight with another dog. If he didn't have on a dog identification tag, both my sister and Danny would be completely out of luck. He might be put to sleep with no dog identification tag to tell the humane society that there was someone who loved him just waiting to pick him up.

Dog identification tags come in all sorts of stylish options. There are plain metal ones which look just like dog tags in the army for a sort of stylish plastic look. On the other hand, there are bright pink plastic ones which can be seen for blocks and blocks around for the way that they reflect light and their garish color. Danny has a large one, a deep metallic green, which is an attractive color, yet reflects enough light that people can see it hanging from his neck.

Danny doesn't just wear it when he is going out, but all of the time. In addition to showing people where he belongs in case he is lost or hurt, it has the added advantage of showing them that he is a domestic dog and not dangerous. Although few dog maulings do occur, when they do they are so likely to be sensationalized, that it pays to let people know ahead of time that a strange dog is safe.

Lassie, Benji, Rin-Tin-Tin…We all have fond memories when we think of dogs. Perhaps as a child, you were one of the lucky ones in the neighborhood who’s parents allowed you to pick out a puppy from the store at the local shopping mall. You brought that puppy home and gave him a name like Spot, or Lucky. You brushed his coat, showed him to your friends, and even convinced your parents to let him sleep in your room. Having a puppy was a wonderful thing, until it was time to pick up his poop and take him for a walk…and that was about the time that your puppy, became your parent’s dog.

Having a dog is a big responsibility, and too often children are over-eager to have one of their own. Chores are done, pennies are saved, and beds are made; all in an effort to prove to the parents that the child is deserving and responsible. The time has come and it has been decided that indeed the child has shown himself to be able to care for a puppy. Together the family visits the local animal shelter, a neighbor’s pet who has just delivered a litter, a shopping mall pet store, and perhaps even a breeder’s home. An animal is chosen, and the child is ecstatic. Gingerly carrying the young animal to the car, and jabbering about wanting to show him off to all his friends.

Upon arriving home, the young dog cowers in a corner, trying to hide from the outstretched, sticky hands of half-a-dozen 6 year old. Eventually the puppy becomes accustomed to the noise and children, and confidently ventures around your home and yard, playing with his new owner. Time passes, and both the youth and his dog begin to grow. The child loses his baby teeth chubby cheeks as the animal loses his soft hair, and playful yelp. It is now necessary for this dog to be taken for longer walks and to be washed and brushed once a week. His little messes on the lawn have turned into big messes, and the days grow farther apart between cleanings.

The once adorable, playful and energetic puppy has now become a full grown dog, and through the eyes of the once eager child, that dog has lost his appeal. The duties that the youth once swore to follow through on, have fallen on older shoulders, as parents now pick up where the child has left off. More often than not, the dog watches through the window as the boy runs outside to greet his friends.

Rather than jumping aboard every time our children’s attention turn to something new, let us nurture their own growth, so that they may see the importance of caring for a living creature. Perhaps we ought to start small with the ever popular Chia Pet, upgrade to fish and maybe even a hermit crab. Later in life, when the responsibilities of caring for another can be better under stood, consider a puppy for your child; who by this time is perhaps a teenager or young adult. Dogs are beautiful and loving creatures that depend on us for many things. They indeed will be our best friend, but first, we must be theirs.