Missing name tag mystery…

[aderbyshirelad]

Morning everyone, hoping someone might be able to put my mind at rest.

We have two fabulous little hounds and I noticed a couple of days ago that one had their name tag missing from their collar. I couldn’t quite remember what we had written on the tag so went to look at his older brother’s for reference and that was missing too! Neither of the rings that held the tags were damaged in anyway.

Now my wife works from home so the dogs are pretty much supervised 24/7 and they’re always walked on lead as recall is rather hit and miss with this breed! The only time they’ve been out of our sight between the tags being in evidence in photos and them going missing has been when they went for Doggy Day Care.

I can’t for the life of me believe that both tags went missing around the same time accidentally. It’s too much of a coincidence - as stated above, the ‘holding’ ring for each tag is still in place and undamaged.

However, why would anyone remove the name tags? The only reason I can think of is to give someone the location of where the dogs live so they can be stolen. They’re a fairly rare breed in the UK so not one of the breeds normally targeted by thieves.

We’re off to Day Care again this morning so I’m obviously going to ask questions but I just wanted to check if I and my wife are being paranoid?! We’re obviously being even more vigilant when the boys are outside. Can anyone think of an alternative explanation?

Thanks in advance,
J

[bigpriest]

It does seem strange but why remove the tags when you could take a photo or if that's not possible why not put the tags back on when you're done?

[aderbyshirelad]

bigpriest said:

It does seem strange but why remove the tags when you could take a photo or if that's not possible why not put the tags back on when you're done?

Thanks for the quick reply. That does make sense and ease my mind a little. Although the words from a long serving Met officer who’s a close friend always ring in my ears - ‘Most thieves are very stupid. Opportunistic, but really quite thick…’

[Chester draws]

We lost a tag from a collar after a couple of years of wear.

We got a phone call telling us where it was found and where it has now been left. So went out to retrieve it.

Turns out the metal had worn away above the hole, presumably from regular swinging on the split ring.

[Squadrone Rosso]

Had this happened very recently to one of our Westies, they both had identical pets at home tags.

Very strange but they’ve not been out of our sight. Bought two new identical ones in the end but I’m betting I’ll find it in the garden when clearing leafs.

[aderbyshirelad]

Thanks All,

It just seemed such a massive coincidence but it makes more sense that they just came off.

Just a bit unnerving once you start thinking the worst!

Now if anyone could tell me where the little beggars have hidden two pairs of spectacles id be most grateful 😊

[bigpriest]

aderbyshirelad said:

Thanks All,

It just seemed such a massive coincidence but it makes more sense that they just came off.

Just a bit unnerving once you start thinking the worst!

Now if anyone could tell me where the little beggars have hidden two pairs of spectacles id be most grateful ??

Missing ID + disguises - they're planning something!

[dundarach]

Our dog tag says:

"If I am alone I am lost" and a mobile number.

I would suggest just that, no name or certainly no address.

I suspect all is well and they're at the day care!

ALSO

Photos please

[Mezzanine]

Maybe just put your name and phone number on the new tags, rather than the exact address where you can find them.

Same reason why you shouldn’t really have your pets name on the tag either.

[Chester draws]

Isn't it law that the address should be on the tag?

Ours has her name, address, postcode on one side and home + 2 mobile numbers on the other.

I think the benefit of being reunited if separated far outweighs the chance of someone seeing where she lives and then stealing her.

[chrisga]

Do your doggy day care walk them? Long shot but I know dog walkers who have their own collars for clients dogs with their own contact details on. Nothing sinister but means they are contacted immediately in the event of a dog going missing, not the owners who then have to contact the dog walker. If the tags went missing at the same time perhaps the day care centre do similar and swap out the tags while they are in their care but forgot to put them back?

[dundarach]

Chester draws said:

Isn't it law that the address should be on the tag?

Ours has her name, address, postcode on one side and home + 2 mobile numbers on the other.

I think the benefit of being reunited if separated far outweighs the chance of someone seeing where she lives and then stealing her.

So it does....ours is recent so I'm wrong sorry!!

[Red9zero]

Our Westies tag has our surname, house number, postcode and phone number on it. We have lost two, both at daycare. Who knows what they get up to there

[aderbyshirelad]

bigpriest said:

Missing ID + disguises - they're planning something!

Oh trust me, they are ALWAYS up to something 👀

[aderbyshirelad]

dundarach said:

Our dog tag says:

"If I am alone I am lost" and a mobile number.

I would suggest just that, no name or certainly no address.

I suspect all is well and they're at the day care!

ALSO

Photos please

Photos? We don't have many - Inish in his favourite spot

[aderbyshirelad]

dundarach said:

Our dog tag says:

"If I am alone I am lost" and a mobile number.

I would suggest just that, no name or certainly no address.

I suspect all is well and they're at the day care!

ALSO

Photos please

Inish's annoying (to him) younger half brother Croi...

[aderbyshirelad]

They get along mostly!

[aderbyshirelad]

Thanks for all of the replies.

New tags ordered, with the minimum of info required and hopefully enough to get them home safely if ever the worst was to happen. As my wife said, "There are far more people out there who would do the right thing and do all they could to reunite us all than not".

I guess one of our neighbours is proof. His two Westies escaped from the garden and boarded a bus. Bold as brass they took up two seats. One of the passengers called the number on the tags.

Opening line, "Have you lost two dogs by any chance?"
Him - "They were in the garden"
Passenger - "Well, they're on the bus to Cranleigh now!"

Feel much better. thanks guys

[Thevet]

Suggests just plastic or similar material fatigue and failure. My bigger bouncier dogs have always destroyed their tags

[Sid's Dad]

The hole in our old dog’s tag wore through and the tag fell off. This was after about five years. Our current dog’s tag is wearing through as well. I reckon it’ll last about five years too before it falls off