To collar or not to collar? (your pets)

[Greed and Death]

She needs to buy an appropriate collar. If she's afraid that the dog might get hung up on something and choke, there are breakaway collars. It shouldn't be hard to find one that fits, or can be made to fit, correctly. A dog without a collar is easier prey than one with - thieves (particularly those a..holes who steal dogs for the purpose of dogfighting) will pick them up and without collars, chips and other forms of id. you've lost a dog - frequently to a cruel end.

I get what you say.

But I do find humorous the idea of dog thieves putting my mom's miniature Daschunds to fight.

As you wish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku88RFNC ... ure=fvwrel

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I get what you say.

But I do find humorous the idea of dog thieves putting my mom's miniature Daschunds to fight.

As you wish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku88RFNC ... ure=fvwrel

That's horrible.

Where my mother lives, dog fights are mainly composed of either Pitbulls or Dobermans.

[Dark Side Messiahs]

If they are strictly indoor pets and are only go out to do their business then I don't see why it should matter. However, if the dogs end up running away on her, your mom might feel bad if they get out and she never sees them all because she didn't pay $10 for a thin piece of metal on a collar with contact info on it.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

If they are strictly indoor pets and are only go out to do their business then I don't see why it should matter. However, if the dogs end up running away on her, your mom might feel bad if they get out and she never sees them all because she didn't pay $10 for a thin piece of metal on a collar with contact info on it.

That has crossed her mind. She still thinks the collar is cruel. I guess it will be up to her.

[Malshan]

Yeah, I think a collar is a good idea for pets. The pros far outweigh the cons, in my opinion. Identification and such.

Just as long as no leashes are used. Gods, I HATE leashes. Or ropes tying the pet to a tree. That's just terrible.

[Gauntleted Fist]

I always thought the point of making sure animals were identifiable was in-case they managed to not be in-doors like they are supposed to be in this case?

They are indoors. Yet, the lady studying to become a vet told my mom she was being neglectful by not collaring her dogs.

Because...they might escape and there's no way for her to actually identify them or claim them in-case they do without proper ID on them or logged somewhere?

[Imsogone]

She needs to buy an appropriate collar. If she's afraid that the dog might get hung up on something and choke, there are breakaway collars. It shouldn't be hard to find one that fits, or can be made to fit, correctly. A dog without a collar is easier prey than one with - thieves (particularly those a..holes who steal dogs for the purpose of dogfighting) will pick them up and without collars, chips and other forms of id. you've lost a dog - frequently to a cruel end.

I get what you say.

But I do find humorous the idea of dog thieves putting my mom's miniature Daschunds to fight.

Actually, they'd love those miniataure Daschunds. They wouldn't put them to fight, they'd use them to train the fighting dogs to kill. It's a cruel end for a trusting pet.

[Seperates]

The real question is why you don't have cats, who will actually come back from being outside.

Er, I had cats. My mom though is not a cat person.

Not just you silly... Everbody.

[Greed and Death]

Er, I had cats. My mom though is not a cat person.

Not just you silly... Everbody.

Cats are evil.

[Senestrum]

Since when was a properly fastened collar uncomfortable?

Not having a collar with ID and owner contact info is irresponsible in the extreme.

[Wikkiwallana]

My mother has two dogs. Neither of which is collared.

Recently, a friend of hers, who's studying to become a vet, told my mother that it was neglectful of hers not to have either dog collared. But my mother thinks collaring a pet is rather cruel. She sees no point in fastening a chain/leather collar around the pet's neck.

All the papers concerning shots and parasite treatments of the dogs is current, so she sees no reason to collar. More-so, where she resides, there doesn't seem to be any laws against collared or un-collared pets. The dogs are kept indoors and, when they're walked, they have harnesses fastened to their backs, which seems to be more comfortable for them.

My question to NSG is: do you think pets need to be collared? Yes or no and why?

There are pros, I don't deny it. If the dogs get lost, a collar could help in finding them. A collared pet also identifies the animal as owned and not a stray.

Cons, there are some of those too. If the collar is not appropriate, it could dig into the skin and cause a wound. A tight collar could also make a pet uncomfortable.

I notice you didn't mention cloth collars, which are quite common and would likely be much less uncomfortable than a leather one. Any particular reason?

[JuNii]

My mother has two dogs. Neither of which is collared.

Recently, a friend of hers, who's studying to become a vet, told my mother that it was neglectful of hers not to have either dog collared. But my mother thinks collaring a pet is rather cruel. She sees no point in fastening a chain/leather collar around the pet's neck.

All the papers concerning shots and parasite treatments of the dogs is current, so she sees no reason to collar. More-so, where she resides, there doesn't seem to be any laws against collared or un-collared pets. The dogs are kept indoors and, when they're walked, they have harnesses fastened to their backs, which seems to be more comfortable for them.

My question to NSG is: do you think pets need to be collared? Yes or no and why?

There are pros, I don't deny it. If the dogs get lost, a collar could help in finding them. A collared pet also identifies the animal as owned and not a stray.

Cons, there are some of those too. If the collar is not appropriate, it could dig into the skin and cause a wound. A tight collar could also make a pet uncomfortable.

then don't get a tight collar. You can get a collar that they can't get out of without it being tight.

of course, the other option to a collar for identification, such as getting your dogs chipped.

[Risottia]

If the dogs get lost, a collar could help in finding them.

I'd say a chip implanted under the dog's skin would be more effective and less likely to be lost.

[Spreewerke]

I got to work today at the slaughterhouse we own and saw a dog digging around in the inedible scraps and in and around the dumpster. I had a firearm on me and was tempted to eradicate the little feller because we'd had this problem every year and it not only spreads inedible parts, trash, and other crap around the property, but it also gives us a pretty negative image: stray dogs eating stuff out of our dumpsters?

I then noticed the collar.

Had I not, I would have just assumed it a stray and shot it (the two homes nearby know of our "three strikes before we take it out" policy). After I managed to chase it down the road towards the house that owned it, I never saw it again. I assume they tied it up (though, it was small -- probably just put it inside). They're pretty cool people. I would've felt bad had I shot it, really.

I know it sounds like a pretty morbid way to solve a problem, but in the region I'm from, that's kind of the norm. If we know we can't take care of an animal, we either give it away or (if it's causing property damage/potentially harmful to humans/diseased/etc.) take it out back and tell the children that Fido "ran away."

Moral of the story: Seeing a collar on the dog prevented it from receiving a 9x19mm Para. round from a 1943-made P.38 handgun.

As a side note, I'm sure seeing a guy in full camouflage chasing a little dog down a highway on foot with a gun on his belt was pretty comical for the guy that was pulling into our drive...

[Greed and Death]

I got to work today at the slaughterhouse we own and saw a dog digging around in the inedible scraps and in and around the dumpster. I had a firearm on me and was tempted to eradicate the little feller because we'd had this problem every year and it not only spreads inedible parts, trash, and other crap around the property, but it also gives us a pretty negative image: stray dogs eating stuff out of our dumpsters?

I then noticed the collar.

Had I not, I would have just assumed it a stray and shot it (the two homes nearby know of our "three strikes before we take it out" policy). After I managed to chase it down the road towards the house that owned it, I never saw it again. I assume they tied it up (though, it was small -- probably just put it inside). They're pretty cool people. I would've felt bad had I shot it, really.

I know it sounds like a pretty morbid way to solve a problem, but in the region I'm from, that's kind of the norm. If we know we can't take care of an animal, we either give it away or (if it's causing property damage/potentially harmful to humans/diseased/etc.) take it out back and tell the children that Fido "ran away."

Moral of the story: Seeing a collar on the dog prevented it from receiving a 9x19mm Para. round from a 1943-made P.38 handgun.

As a side note, I'm sure seeing a guy in full camouflage chasing a little dog down a highway on foot with a gun on his belt was pretty comical for the guy that was pulling into our drive...

That is a pretty expensive handgun for handling critters.

[1000 Cats]

Yeah, there are collars out there I'd wear myself. Not hard to find. If you're willing to spend more than six bucks on some hunk of plastic, there's really no reason at all not to do so.

That having been said, I'm a massive hypocrite, as I've never collared a furry companion. I've also never lost one, though. When growing up, I was never in an area with so many people that a lost pet might not get back to you if found. And the one I have currently isn't likely to get confused with another. Pardon me, sir, but is this your missing giant cat?

As for chips, I've no idea about you, but I know no one who keeps a chip reader handy in their house. It's a lot easier just to read an etching on a collar. I'm pretty sure most people would have no idea what to do if they picked up someone's dog who didn't have a collar; they'd assume there was no identification at all, and not even consider the possibility of a chip.

[Senestrum]

Chips aren't there to be read by read by Joe Random; they're there in case the animal makes it to the pound.

Although you really should have both a collar and a chip, with the chip there as an unremovable backup.

[1000 Cats]

Chips aren't there to be read by read by Joe Random; they're there in case the animal makes it to the pound.

Although you really should have both a collar and a chip, with the chip there as an unremovable backup.

Oh right. Pounds. I keep forgetting there are people with dogs who live in urban areas.

Anyway, that's probably the best solution if you're concerned with a pet getting lost.

[Fellrike]

I'm a cat person; I have two cats. They don't go outside, except for out onto the balcony, as the area isn't safe for them. Neither has ever worn a collar. I hate collars! I hate what the collar represents.

[Juristonia]

Completely depends on the pet.
The dog I'm looking after at the moment doesn't have a collar because she listens well, walks next to me and never randomly runs off somewhere.
The dog I had before this was a hyperactive ball of terror who'd go all over the place so he'd be on a leash whenever we went out.
Collar always comes off inside the house though. No real point in it.

[Krakosov]

Yeah, I think a collar is a good idea for pets. The pros far outweigh the cons, in my opinion. Identification and such.

Just as long as no leashes are used. Gods, I HATE leashes. Or ropes tying the pet to a tree. That's just terrible.

agreed

[Dracoria]

That's horrible.

Where my mother lives, dog fights are mainly composed of either Pitbulls or Dobermans.

Smaller dogs in some areas may be stolen for training said fighting dogs.

A few years ago near where I live, urban types were stealing pugs and other small, relatively fearless dogs to bait inbred pit bulls. It didn't last very long, and dog fighting's been curtailed severely in the area, but it left an image in peoples' minds.

Anyway, I always collar my dogs. Granted, they're usually the most fashionable collars I can find and typically kind of loose since I walk them on harnesses and use the collars just for ID. my current mutt has the cutest little tiger-striped collar that blends in with her fluffy neck, and oddly enough, she seems kind of insecure when she's without either it or her harness.

[Cromarty]

I think if you give a minimal amount of effort, you can find a collar that is comfortable for your pet. You shouldn't rely on luck. It's wise to properly identify them, especially in a culture where stray dogs (and those mistaken for stray dogs) don't meet the kindest of fates.

This.

[AiliailiA]

The identification purpose of collars is served by microchipping. If you pet gets lost, a vet or the county pound can identify it by the microchip. But I suppose it is good for anyone to be able to find that out by reading the tag, without needing electronic equipment. Bringing you lost pet home is a neighbourly thing to do which doesn't really require professionals to be involved. I guess both would be good if it was just about humans being able to identify the animal.

Collars are about ownership, which I disagree with. Enough said.

[Dakini]

I put collars on my cats so I know where they are and they can't sneak up on me (there are bells). Plus if they get out of the house, someone is less likely to steal them if they've got a collar. Well, until they almost get caught on something and then the quick-release nature of the collar means they lose it (but better that than them injuring themselves).

Also, you should be able to fit a few fingers between the pet's collar and its neck. If you can't, the collar is too tight.