Archive for category: Rabies Tags

World Rabies Day 2025: Act Now: You, Me, Community

September 28, 2025, is World Rabies Day—a global day of action to raise awareness about rabies prevention and the importance of keeping pets vaccinated and properly identified. This year’s theme, “Act Now: You, Me, Community,” emphasizes that protecting animals and people starts with the steps each of us take today. Since rabies is 100% preventable through vaccination and responsible pet ownership, World Rabies Day reminds us that small actions—like vaccinating your dog, leading by example, and educating your neighbors—can save lives and strengthen community health.

At National Band & Tag, we’re proud to support veterinarians, clinics, and municipalities across the country with durable rabies tags that serve as proof of vaccination and peace of mind for pet owners.

Our Standard Rabies Tags

Each year, NB&T offers the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NAPSHV)’s recommended tag style and color to help standardize rabies vaccination across the U.S. For 2026, the style of the year is the Orange Oval (Style #228). These tags are easy to recognize, highly durable, and customizable with your clinic or municipality’s information.

Paw Finders Rabies Tags

Looking for an enhanced solution? Our Paw Finders rabies tags (Style #228PAW) combine the traditional rabies tag with modern lost pet recovery technology.

  • Front: Standard rabies vaccination information.
  • Back: A unique QR code linked to the pet owner’s contact information.

If a pet is ever lost, anyone who finds them can quickly scan the tag to connect with the owner—no microchip scanner required. This dual-purpose tag offers an extra layer of protection for pets and peace of mind for their families.

Why Order Early?

As we head toward the end of the year, production schedules become increasingly busy with thousands of clinics and municipalities ordering their tags for the upcoming year. To ensure delivery before January 1, 2026 , we strongly encourage customers to order their rabies tags now.

Order your 2026 Style 228 or 228PAW Rabies Tags today

Together We Can Make a Difference

World Rabies Day is a reminder that prevention saves lives—through vaccination and identification. Whether you choose our standard rabies tags or Paw Finders, you’re helping to protect pets, reassure owners, and build a healthier community.

Celebrate National Lost Pet Prevention Month with Paw Finders

July is National Lost Pet Prevention Month, a reminder for pet owners and veterinary professionals alike to take proactive steps in keeping animals safe and identifiable. With millions of pets going missing every year, one small tag can make a life-changing difference—especially when it’s backed by technology.

That’s where Paw Finders comes in.

What is Paw Finders?

Paw Finders is more than just a rabies tag. It’s a dual-purpose solution that combines rabies identification with a scannable QR code that helps reunite lost pets with their owners.

Each tag is linked to an online profile that includes the pet owner’s name and phone number. If a lost pet is found, anyone with a smartphone can scan the tag and connect with the owner directly—no special scanner or vet visit needed.

147PAW 2025 rabies tags paw finders

For Pet Owners:

Have a Paw Finders Tag? Don’t Forget to Register It!

If your veterinarian gave you a Paw Finders rabies tag this year, take a moment to register it. It only takes a minute, but that small step could be the key to bringing your pet home safely.

  • Scan the QR code on the back of the tag with a smartphone.
  • Follow the prompts to enter your contact information.
  • There is a one-time registration fee of just $2.99.

Already registered? Great! But take this opportunity during National Lost Pet Prevention Month to double-check that your contact info is still up to date. If you need to update a phone number or email, just send your Tag ID number and new contact info to support@pawfinders.com.

For Veterinarians:

Help Your Clients Protect Their Pets with Paw Finders

If you’re a veterinary clinic currently ordering generic rabies tags, consider making the switch to Paw Finders for your 2026 rabies tag order. By offering these upgraded tags, you’re giving your clients peace of mind and adding extra value to their pet’s annual visit.

Paw Finders makes it easy:

  • Clients are also more likely to put the rabies tag on their pet’s collar.
  • These tags mean you’ll get less phone calls about lost pets! The tag can be scanned by the finder and the owner can be contacted directly.
  • Use the Vet Portal to Register Paw Finders rabies tags for your clients. 
  • Paw Finders brings your practice into the modern tag era.

Want to learn more? Visit www.pawfinders.com or share the site with your tag supplier to explore options for next year.

Preventing Lost Pets Starts with You

This month, do your part—whether that means registering your pet’s tag, reminding a friend, or encouraging your vet to make the switch to Paw Finders. Every action brings us one step closer to fewer lost pets and more happy reunions.

World Rabies Day 2024: Breaking Rabies Boundaries


September 28th is World Rabies Day, a global initiative aimed at raising awareness and accelerating efforts towards rabies elimination. Created by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), 2024’s theme is “Breaking Rabies Boundaries”. This theme reflects the pressing need to move beyond the status quo, where rabies elimination remains elusive for many parts of the world, causing suffering and claiming both human and animal lives. This theme was created to help achieve the ultimate goal of Zero by 30, zero human dog-mediated rabies deaths by 2030.

“Breaking Rabies Boundaries” means tackling the barriers that are currently preventing the eradication of rabies, such as:

  • Disease Silos: Align efforts with the World Health Organization to connect efforts across different diseases and foster integrated approaches.
  • One Health Collaboration: Encourage joint actions between sectors to tackle rabies as a team.
  • Cooperation: Improve teamwork among local, national, and international stakeholders.
  • Innovation: Embrace new tools and ideas to enhance rabies prevention and control efforts.
  • Program Expansion: Scale up efforts to make a bigger impact.
  • Public Awareness: Educate the public to correct misconceptions and increase understanding of the rabies disease. Using this knowledge to drive community engagement.

National Band & Tag has been a supporter of rabies vaccinations for decades as a manufacturer of rabies tags. We are celebrating World Rabies Day with our 2025 Blue Rosette rabies tags! The Blue Rosette shape is the recommended rabies tag style by NASPHV for 2025. The style of the year is our style #147 and #147PAW. Enhance your rabies tags with Paw Finders! A rabies tag and lost pet recovery system all in one tag. Learn more about Paw Finders here.

July is Lost Pet Prevention Month

July is Lost Pet Prevention Month! Created by our friends at PetHub, this initiative is aimed at raising awareness and providing pet owners with tools and strategies to prevent their pets from going missing. This month is particularly critical as July 4th celebrations create the largest influx in animal shelters. Fireworks and gatherings can easily startle pets, causing them to flee in fear. Additionally, summer vacations can lead to pets getting lost in unfamiliar environments.

Did you know that over 10 million dogs and cats are lost or stolen in the U.S. every year? With one in three pets becoming lost at some point during their life, it’s crucial to take steps to prevent this scenario. According to the American Humane Association, only 22% of lost dogs and a mere 2% of lost cats entering shelters without identification are reunited with their families. However, there’s a way to significantly improve these odds: Paw Finders rabies tags from National Band & Tag.

Increase the Chances of a Safe Return with Paw Finders

Paw Finders tags are more than just rabies tags; they are a lost pet recovery system. When someone finds your pet, they can easily use a smartphone to scan the QR Code on the tag to get your phone number and contact you to start the reunion process.

During Lost Pet Prevention Month, take the time to ensure your pet’s safety. If you received a Paw Finders tag from your veterinarian or municipality, scan your QR Code to register your tag, or make sure the registered information is up to date. By registering your Paw Finders, you can greatly increase the likelihood of a happy reunion with your furry friend if they ever go missing. Let’s work together to keep our pets safe and sound, not just in July, but all year round.

Other Tips for Preventing Lost Pets

To help keep your furry family members safe, here are some helpful tips:

  1. Always Use a Collar and ID Tag: Ensure your pet wears a collar with a Paw Finders tag at all times. This is the simplest and most effective way for someone to identify and contact you if your pet is found.
  2. Microchipping: Microchip your pets as a backup form of identification. This permanent form of ID can be scanned by veterinarians and shelters.
  3. Leash and Secure Enclosures: Always walk your dog on a leash, even if they are well-trained. Make your home and yard escape-proof. Check for loose fence boards or gaps and ensure all gates are securely latched.
  4. Spay and Neuter: Spaying and neutering can reduce the likelihood of pets wandering off in search of a mate.
  5. Community Engagement: Actively engage with your community. Encourage neighbors to report missing or found pets on social media and local platforms.

Round / Circle Tags – 12 Different Sizes to Choose From!

When it comes to tagging solutions, one shape that consistently stands out for its versatility and practicality is the circle tag. At National Band & Tag, we offer a range of round tags that can be tailored to meet a variety of needs, whether it’s for commercial, industrial, or personal use.

A Size for Every Application

With twelve different sizes available, ranging from 1/2″ inch to 2-7/8″ inches, we have a size to fit your identification needs. Smaller tags are ideal for smaller items, such as tagging pets or small assets, where a larger tag might be cumbersome. On the other end, the larger tags are perfect for items where visibility from a distance is crucial, such as in tree tagging or valve labeling.

Versatile Uses Across Industries

The practicality of round tags extends across various industries and uses. Just a few of the more popular ones we service include:

  • Tree Tags: Essential for forestry maintenance and research, numbered round tags are used on millions of trees each year.
  • Valve Tags: Used in industrial settings, these tags help in managing and identifying different valves and pipes, enhancing safety and operational efficiency.
  • Pet Tags: Rabies tags, pet license tags, or just general pet ID tags. Round tags work for cats and dogs of all sizes.
  • Asset Tags: Useful in tracking and managing assets in businesses, ensuring that each item can be accounted for.
  • Promotional Tags: Companies can use these tags as part of promotional materials, giving away branded keychains or identifying their hand-made products.
  • Crematory Tags: Used to prevent loss and provide 100% traceability. Serial numbered tags are extremely important in this industry.
  • Survey Tags: Our round tags customized with the hole in the middle for a nail, are made from durable material made to last out in the field.

Customization at Its Best

All our round tags can be fully customized to suit your needs. This includes options for laser etching or stamping, with numbers, names, barcodes, logos, or any other information you require. Material and hole size are also customizable to fit your environment and fastening needs. The flexibility in customization makes these tags not only useful for practical purposes but also excellent for promotional activities, where branding needs to be clear and effective.

You can see in the picture below a few different samples. Styles #116 & #50 are laser etched while the rest are stamped. Style #145 shows white paint-fill. Styles #81 & #95 show our two different stainless steels, #91 is brass, and the rest are plain, black UV stable, or colored aluminum. Styles #93 & #95 show our optional hole size and placement, different than the standard 1/8″ hole at the top. Contact us with any customization questions.

To order your round tags, you can order online here, email us at tags@nationalband.com, or call us at 859-261-2035 to talk with a customer service representative. Our sales reps are here to help whether you need a simple tag with text or a highly customized one with a logo and barcode. We look forward to assisting with your order.



We also have 5 different sizes of round tags with a loop on top where the hole goes (not featured above). See those tags here.

World Rabies Day – 2023


September 28th is World Rabies Day! Created and coordinated annually by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), World Rabies Day focuses on rabies endemic countries to increase community awareness of the disease and its prevention.

This year’s theme is “Rabies: All for 1, One Health for All”.

  • “All for 1” expresses the responsibility each and every one of us has in the battle to eliminate rabies. All people can work towards One Health, and everyone can contribute to saving a life. Communities can work together to help individual people and animals, and everyone can work towards a single goal effectively.
  • Number 1 can refer to a single person making a difference, to a community, to our one goal, to how one vaccinated animal protects all, and how a single course of PEP can save a life.

As always, this year’s theme supports the overall mission of Zero by 30. To have zero human deaths from dog-transmitted rabies by 2030.


National Band & Tag is a family-owned manufacturer of rabies tags and supporter of World Rabies Day! The National Association of Public Health Veterinarians sets the standard for the color and style of each year’s rabies tags. 2024’s NASPHV recommended style of the year is the Red Heart. NB&T not only produces millions of rabies tags each year, but we also offer Paw Finders. Paw Finders is a rabies tag and lost pet recovery system, all in one tag! The QR Code can be scanned and registered with the pet owner’s name and phone number. If the pet ever goes missing, the finder can scan the QR Code to get the owner’s contact information. This makes returning lost pets home easier and faster. Order your Paw Finders tags for 2024 here.

Plate Tags for Fall & Winter 2023

August 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023, we will have a limited selection of plate tag styles available. This is our busiest time of the year for these shapes, so by limiting our selection to the most popular styles, we will be able to create better lead times for our customers. If you need one of the tag styles not on our selected list, they will still be available for a one-time $50.00 charge per order.


Dog & Cat Tags: Material Comparison Chart

  Plain Aluminum Colored Aluminum Stainless Steel Brass
  137
Price Level $ $$ $$$ $$$$
Colors Plain (Silver) Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Turquoise, Blue, Purple, Gold, Black, White Plain (Silver) Plain (Bronze)
Thickness .050”

.064″

 .050”

.064”

 .031” .036”
Material 3003 1/2 hard temper 3003 1/2 hard temper Type 430 2BA finish (Shiny, attracted to magnet, slightly corrosive) Alloy 260 70/30 – 1/2 hard temper
Benefits / Uses .050″ Plain Aluminum is the best choice for those looking for a low cost option. .050” – Standard 1-year tags.

.064” – 3-year tags

To help differentiate tags by year from a distance, color is the best option because you can rotate colors.

Rabies Tags – NASPHV recommended color of the year

 3 year tag

Lifetime tags

 Has a shinny surface that gives it a high-quality look.

Order your 2023 Rabies Tags

paw finders

Why purchase your 2023 rabies tags from National Band & Tag?

  • We have standard rabies tags and Paw Finders rabies tag options
  • Low-cost leader
  • Manufactured in America
  • Multiple sizes available to fit both cats and dogs
  • Your information, custom stamped to meet your rabies vaccination needs
  • Annual order reminders are sent out each year after your first purchase
  • Both 1-year and 3-year rabies tags are available

How to place your 2023 rabies tags order:

Lost Dogs Awareness Day – April 23rd

On April 23rd, join National Band & Tag and Paw Finders, as we celebrate National Lost Dogs Awareness Day!

This day was created to support the efforts of organizations that are involved in finding missing pets and helping reunite pets with their owners. You can observe National Lost Dogs Awareness Day by updating your dog’s records, making sure their Paw Finders tag is registered, microchipping your dog, and by helping find missing dogs in your area.

Paw Finders is a rabies tag and lost pet recovery system, all in one tag. We want to celebrate Lost Dogs Awareness Day because we created these tags to help get lost pets home. Every pet should already be wearing a rabies tag. Our rabies tags serve double duty by providing proof of a rabies vaccination on the front of the tag, and the QR Code registered with the pet owner’s contact info on the back of the tag. We love pets, have our own pets, and want to help take care of yours as well. We hope that these Paw Finders tags will be that missing link between you and your pet if they ever get lost.

Share Paw Finders With Your Customers

You’ve upgraded your clinic to Paw Finders Rabies Tags, the rabies tag and lost pet recovery system, all in one tag. The next step is to get the tag registered with the pet owner’s contact information.

Option 1: Register the tag for your client using the Vet Portal. Paw Finders tags are 20 times more likely to be registered when a vet does it in the Vet Portal, versus sending the tag home for the pet owner to register individually. Just like microchips, the chance of a tag being registered goes down as soon as it leaves the vet’s office. The lost pet recovery part of the tag is useless if the tag isn’t registered. At the beginning of each month, we will charge the card on file for all the registrations from the previous month. You can pass the $2.99 fee onto your customer by including it in their bill.

Option 2: The pet owner can register the tag themselves. Notify your pet owners that they can scan the QR Code on the back of the tag, or go to www.PawFinders.com and enter the number manually, then follow the registration prompt, and pay the $2.99 fee. We have posters available on our Media Kit page. You can print the posters and hang them around the office, add them onto your website, post them on social media, etc. Follow Paw Finders on Facebook and Twitter to get helpful posts that you can share to your social media pages. The more you explain what the new tag is and how it benefits the pet owners, the more likely they are to register it.

A registered Paw Finders tag comes in handy should the pet ever get lost. The person who finds them can scan the QR Code, or enter the unique ID number on our website, to get the owner’s contact info. A registered Paw Finders tags means less calls to your office, and the owner gets their pet back faster.

If you still have questions about Paw Finders tags, the Vet Portal, or the registration process, check out our FAQ page, or contact us at support@pawfinders.com.

World Rabies Day 2021

world rabies day 2021

2021 is the 15th World Rabies Day, hosted by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC).  This year’s World Rabies Day theme is: “Rabies: Facts, not Fear”. For rabies, fears, misconceptions and misinformation about the disease and its prevention dates back hundreds of years. This year’s theme is focused on sharing facts about rabies, and not spreading fear about the disease by relying on misinformation and myths.

Facts: Facts are essential for raising disease awareness, preventing rabies cases, having the animal population vaccinated, and educating people about the dangers of rabies and how to prevent it. Without facts we would not have data for decision-makers to inform them of the serious nature of the disease. We would not be able to advocate for its elimination and the burden of the disease would remain unknown, resulting in tens of thousands of people and animals continuing to die from rabies each year. Let us use facts to raise awareness and educate others about rabies, a 99% fatal, yet 100% preventable disease.

Fear: The word “fear” has three meanings in this year’s theme. Firstly, it relates to the general fear caused by rabies, the fear people experience when encountering rabid animals, and the fear that people live with in communities plagued by rabies. The second meaning relates directly to the symptom of fear that people may experience when infected with rabies. Lastly, fear relates to the fear caused by ‘fake news’ or myths about rabies – making people afraid of vaccination, making people afraid to get their animals sterilized or vaccinated, and making people believe in ineffective treatments for the disease.

World Rabies Day was created to raise awareness and advocate for rabies elimination globally and is designed to unite all people, organizations, and stakeholders against rabies. World Rabies Day is held every year on September 28. This date was chosen as it is the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur, the first person to successfully create a vaccine against rabies. Collaboration is critical for success and everyone is encouraged to take part. The only way that we can eliminate rabies and end the needless suffering is by working together and uniting towards a common goal – the goal of Zero by 30. Learn more about World Rabies Day at: www.rabiesalliance.org/world-rabies-day 

National Band & Tag Company is an avid supporter of rabies vaccinations, as a family owned manufacturer of rabies vaccination tags.

2022 orange oval rabies tags for world rabies day

 

 

2022 Rabies Tags – Order Today!

Paw Finders 2022 rabies tags - orange oval 2020 rabies tags orange oval

Why purchase your 2022 rabies tags from National Band & Tag?

  • We have standard rabies tags and Paw Finders rabies tag options
  • Low-cost leader
  • Manufactured in America
  • Multiple sizes available to fit both cats and dogs
  • Your information, custom stamped to meet your rabies vaccination needs
  • Annual order reminders are sent out each year after your first purchase
  • Both 1-year and 3-year rabies tags are available

How to place your 2022 rabies tags order:

2022 rabies tags orange ovals and paw finders

 

2021’s Rabies Tag is the Blue Rosette

We are currently in the middle of our busiest time of the year with rabies tags. To guarantee delivery by January 1st, we urge all our veterinarian customers to order before November.

The National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) recommended tag style of the year for 2021 is #147, Blue Rosette.

2021 rabies tags blue rosette

Why purchase from National Band & Tag?
  • Quick turnaround times
  • Low-cost leader
  • Manufactured in America
  • Multiple shapes and sizes available to fit both cats and dogs
  • Your information, custom stamped to meet your rabies vaccination needs
  • Annual order reminders are sent out each year after your first purchase
  • Both 1-year and 3-year rabies tags are available
Tips for ordering your 2021 rabies tags:
  1. Order enough tags. If you are on the fence about how many tags to order, we always recommend over-ordering. To re-order more tags, it will cost more time and money than if you order 100 more tags than normal the first time. If there are extra tags at the end of the year, you can recycle aluminum tags.
  2. Special orders take more time. If you are ordering something other than stamped tags with standard packing, additional time will be added on to produce your order. This can really affect customers who want to order paint-filled tags that are flat packed in November and December.
  3. Don’t forget to pay for your order. All orders must be paid for before the tags will be produced. (Unless you have an open account). Just call in with your quote number and credit card to pay, mail a check, or pay online.
  4. Review your acknowledgment. After your sales representative has entered your order, they will send you an acknowledgment (receipt), please review it to make sure the stamping, quantity, style, color, etc. is correct. Your estimated shipping date will also be on your acknowledgment.
What’s New for 2021:

Check out our new 2021 rabies tag, Paw Finders (style #147PAW). Paw Finders is a rabies tag and lost pet recovery system, all in one tag. The vet’s information is on the front, like a regular rabies tag. On the back is a QR Code that holds the pet owner’s contact information. Click here to learn more.

 

Order Online Here

End Rabies: Collaborate, Vaccinate

World Rabies Day is September 28th! This holiday was created by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) with the goal to end the spread of rabies to humans from dogs. World Rabies Day focuses on increasing community awareness of rabies and its prevention.

2020’s theme is “End Rabies: Collaborate, Vaccinate“

End rabies: a reminder that we have 10 years to end human deaths from dog rabies and that we can raise awareness at the global level through the End Rabies Now campaign.

Collaborate: The United Against Rabies coalition was formed and subsequently launched the Global Strategic Plan. We need to continue collaboration at the international, national and local levels to eliminate rabies. Especially keeping in mind that it’s a disease that knows no borders.  

Vaccinate: A massive breakthrough was recently made in the rabies world. GAVI, the vaccine alliance, has included rabies into its portfolio of vaccines. This means that with their support, 181,000 more human deaths from rabies can be prevented. We also need to remember to vaccinate dogs to prevent rabies at its source so that we can reach elimination.

Learn more at www.rabiesalliance.org/world-rabies-day

world rabies day 2020 collaborate, vaccinate

 

To celebrate this year, National Band & Tag is excited to launch our newest product, Paw Finders! Paw Finders is a rabies tag and lost pet recovery system, all in one tag. The vet’s information is on the front, like a regular rabies tag. On the back is a QR Code that holds the pet owner’s contact information. These tags are available for purchase in bulk by veterinarians. Our easy to use Vet Portal makes registering the tags easy. Or you can send the tag home with your client for them to register themselves. Bring your vet office into the modern pet tag era and reduce the number of lost pet calls to your office with Paw Finders rabies tags!

rabies tags, world rabies day, collaborate, vaccinate paw finders

2021’s recommended style of the year is the Blue Rosette.

 

Every Day is Tag Day™

Here at National Band & Tag Company, we like to think that Every Day is Tag Day™!  This day was created by the American Humane Society and is celebrated on the first Saturday in April. Every Day is Tag Day™ unites thousands of animal control agencies, veterinarians, and humane organizations with the goal of urging pet owners to equip their pets with ID tags and/or microchips. Tags and microchips help maximize the chance of a lost pet returning home safely.

How to participate in Every Day is Tag Day™:
  • Make sure your pet always wears a collar with a current ID tag, rabies tag, and city/county license.
  • Include a phone number on their ID tag.
  • Keep your pet’s licenses, ID tag, and microchip current. Make sure to update the tag if you change your address or phone number.
  • Remember that even indoor pets need tags. Many indoor pets can escape and end up in the shelter.
  • If you have a Paw Finders rabies tag, ensure your tag is registered and contact info is up-to-date.

You can order a personal ID tag at a local pet store kiosk, or online. You will receive a Rabies Tag from your veterinarian when your pet receives a rabies vaccination. (Tell your veterinarian about our new Paw Finders rabies tags! A rabies tag and lost pet recovery system, all in one tag). City/County license tags are usually obtained through the county clerk’s office or animal control. Check for your local pet licensing requirements online. National Band & Tag mass produces blank tags for kiosks, and for individuals to personalize and re-sell. We also produce rabies tags for veterinarians and  license tags for cities and counties.

dog tags, license tags, every day is tag day, rabies tags

Share with us in the comments, how do you plan to celebrate Every Day is Tag Day™?

2020 Is The Year Of The Heart

 

Happy Valentine’s Day!

To celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, we are sharing our Red Heart Rabies Tags! The National Association of Public Health Veterinarians (NAPHV) sets a recommended tag style and color for rabies tags each year. 2020’s rabies tag is the red heart! NB&T has 8 styles of heart-shaped tags for you to choose from.

red heart rabies tags

 

At NB&T, we have manufactured rabies tags for over 70 years! We love manufacturing rabies tags, just as much as we love our pets. This is why we are excited to launch our newest rabies tag in the year of the heart! Paw Finders is our standard rabies tags, now with a QR code on the back of the tag!

rabies tags with a QR Code

When someone finds a lost pet with a Paw Finders rabies tag, they can scan the QR code with a smartphone to bring up the owner’s contact information! This helps get lost pets home faster. The NASPHV style of the year tag also lets people know that the animal is up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations, making approaching them to scan the tag safer for the finder. To learn more about Paw Finders, check out our website: www.PawFinders.com.

**NOTE: Paw Finders is only available on the style of the year tag. Contact us to see what style is currently in production.

How to read tags on a lost pet

Unfortunately, there is no national Pet ID Tag lookup in place to get a lost pet home. Luckily, lost pets never go more than a few miles from home. This is why a local city or county database is always more reliable than a national one. There are multiple tag manufacturers like National Band & Tag, all with multiple customers who order the same numbering. This is why contacting local animal shelters, veterinarians, and city/county animal control offices are always more likely to produce results than contacting tag manufacturers.

Here are some tag tips to help return lost pets as soon as possible:

The first tag to look for is a Pet ID Tag. These tags usually have the pet’s name on it, the owner’s contact info, or a QR Code on it. New, modern QR Coded pet tags will need to be scanned with a smartphone, or the unique ID number will need to be keyed in on the website to access the owner’s information.

rabies tags with a QR Code

The second tag to look for is a local county or city License Tag. While not every city or county requires a License Tag, the majority of the US enforces pet licensing. Based on where the animal is found, you can contact local animal control offices. You can give them the tag number of the lost pet, and they can then look that unique number up to get the owner’s information.

dog and cat license tags

The third tag to look for is a Rabies Tag. These usually have the veterinarian’s information on it so you can contact them. Because doctors cannot give out patient information, they will have to contact the owner on your behalf.

2019 rabies tag green bell

Other types of tags may include Dog Park License Tags, Apartment Registered Tags, or “I’m Microchipped” Tags. These will all help hint to the area the pet came from to help narrow down your search.

If there are no tags or any forms of identification on the lost pet, you will want to take them to a local vet or animal shelter to have them scanned for a microchip. You can then use social media, found pet flyers, lost pet online databases, and word of mouth to try to find the owners.

Rabies: Vaccinate to Eliminate

September 28, 2019, will be the 13th World Rabies Day! This year’s theme focuses on vaccination, with the theme, Rabies: Vaccinate to Eliminate. National Band & Tag supports World Rabies Day as a manufacturer of rabies vaccination tags. The NASPHV recommended rabies tag style for 2019 is the Green Bell and 2020 is the Red Heart. Each year has a different style tag so that it is easy to tell from a distance if a dog has an up-to-date tag on their collar or not. world rabies day logo for 2020 13th anniversary - rabies: vaccinate to eliminate

The theme, Rabies: Vaccinate to Eliminate, raise awareness so that all dogs receive a rabies vaccine. It’s a reminder to dog owners, animal health professionals, and local governments to make sure pets in their local area are always up to date on their rabies shot. This theme also commits to the Global Alliance for Rabies Control’s 2030 goal of eliminating rabies deaths.red heart 2020 rabies tags for world rabies day

To learn more about the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, check out their website: https://rabiesalliance.org/

It’s time to order your 2020 Rabies Tags

The 2020 style of the year rabies tag is the Red Heart.

As we get ready to enter our Rabies Tag season (September – December), our busiest time of the year, we urge all our veterinarian customers to order as early as possible for a quicker turnaround time. The NASPHV recommended tag style of the year is #198 Red Heart.

Why purchase from National Band & Tag?
  • Quick turnaround times
  • Low-cost leader
  • Manufactured in America
  • Multiple shapes and sizes available to fit both cats and dogs
  • Your information, custom stamped to meet your rabies vaccination needs
  • Both 1-year and 3-year rabies tags are available
Here are a few tips to help with your 2020 Red Heart order:
  1. Order enough tags. If you are on the fence about how many tags to order, we always recommend over-ordering. To re-order more tags, it will cost more time and money than if you order 100 more tags than normal the first time. If there are extra tags at the end of the year, you can recycle aluminum tags.
  2. Special orders take more time. If you are ordering something other than stamped tags with standard packing, additional time will be added on to produce your order. This can really affect customers who want to order paint-filled tags that are flat packed in November and December.
  3. Don’t forget to pay for your order. All orders must be paid for before the tags will be produced. (Unless you have an open account). Just call in with your quote number and credit card to pay, mail a check, or pay online.
  4. Review your acknowledgment. After your sales representative has entered your order they will send you an acknowledgment (receipt), please review it to make sure the stamping, quantity, style, color, etc. is correct. Your estimated shipping date will also be on your acknowledgment.

If you have any questions or want to check the status of your order, give us a call at 859-261-2035.