🏷️ QR pet tag

Guide: a QR tag to help your pet get home

What this tool does

The QR tag tool lets you create your pet's profile with its photo, name and your contact details, and generate a QR code to put on its collar. If someone finds your pet, they just scan the code with their phone camera to see the profile and call or message you right away.

How it works

Fill in the profile with whatever you want to show: your pet's name, photo, your phone number, a message for whoever finds it and important details such as allergies or medicines. The tool creates the QR code, which you can download and print on a tag, a waterproof label or a collar charm.

Before printing, test it: scan it with your phone and someone else's to check it opens properly.

A QR tag doesn't replace a microchip

The best approach is several layers of protection, because each covers a different case:

• A tag with your phone number engraved: anyone can read it, even without a phone.
• A QR code: gives much more information and lets people reach you in seconds.
• A microchip: can't fall off or get lost. Vets and shelters read it with a scanner. Keep your details updated in the chip registry.

Check the collar now and then: it should be snug, with room for two fingers. Cats should wear breakaway collars that open if they get caught.

What to include and what to leave out

Add a phone number you always answer and, if possible, a second contact. It's helpful to note whether your pet takes medicine or has a special condition. Avoid listing your exact address: your phone number is enough for people to reach you.

If your pet goes missing, create a lost pet poster right away and follow the steps in What to do if your pet is lost.

Review the profile regularly

If you change your phone number or address, or your pet starts a treatment, update the profile and test the code again. A good habit is to check it every six months, for example when parasite prevention is due. Keep the profile photo recent too, especially for puppies that change a lot.