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 Bark Park Inn – The World’s Largest Beagle

Husband and wife artists, and Dog Bark Park Inn owners, Dennis Sullivan and Francis Conklin have been ordering NB&T tags for over 30 years. They add brass tags, Style #298 Heart, as a “license tag” on every chainsaw dog carving they make. Each “license tag” is stamped with the year, business name, location and zip code. They have carved and sold over 30,000 wooden dog carvings from their Idaho art studio and gift shop.

To go along with their dog shaped chainsaw artwork gift shop, Dennis and Francis added a 30 feet tall beagle shaped bed and breakfast inn. Dog lovers visiting Cottonwood, Idaho can stop and get their picture with the World’s Largest Beagle! If you are lucky enough to snag a reservation to stay at the inn, you will find more dog chainsaw creations on the inside of the beagle.

Francis Conklin states, “National Band & Tag has always been a pleasure to do business with, being friendly on the phone, and supplying our needs in the exact fashion as expected. We have recommended your services to others.”

Learn more about the Dog Bark Park Inn, Bed & Breakfast, and Chainsaw Art Gallery by visiting their website and Facebook page.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dogbarkparkinn

Website: www.dogbarkpark.com.


Dog Tags for Apartment Complexes

Apartment complexes, condos, HOA associations, and property managers can all keep track of the pets being kept in their residential housing with pet ID tags.

Benefits to having a Pet ID program:

  • Tag cost is covered by the resident’s pet fee
  • Know what serial number on the tag goes to what apartment number. If a dog gets lost and someone else in the complex finds them, you can help get them home.
  • If you have an enclosed dog park or pet area, for residents only, the tag can act as a visual pass so you know they are a resident.
  • By requiring dogs to wear the tag, you will be able to enforce approved dogs living in the apartments.  Residents won’t be able to easily hide a new dog to avoid the fees.
  • Serial numbers on the tags can be paired with any pet waste management system that you are already using to ID residents not picking up after their pets.

Shown below are two example tags, Style 165 bone and Style 137 circle. We have over 160 pet ID tags to choose from, which you can view here. All of our dog and cat ID tags can be made in colored aluminum, plain aluminum, stainless steel or brass with your customized stamping. Fill out this order form for a free price quote or contact us at [email protected] with any questions.

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:

Taganize Dog Tags

Our customer Taganize, Inc, by John Tengstrom, has given our plain aluminum tag an upgrade by adding a NFC (near-field communication) microchip! Taganize is a dog tag and dedicated website combo to manage your pet’s information. Now your dog will carry all of its information with it at all times, helping give you peace of mind.

Taganize dog tag

NB&T Style #106 (Extra large round tag with loop) 1-15/16″ x 1-1/2″ – .064″ Aluminum – Custom made logo stamp on the front. With Taganize, Inc. black, NFC chip on the back.

Using your Android or iPhone, tap your smartphone against the tag and the dog’s profile immediately pops up. Have 24/7 access to veterinary records, dietary restrictions, and owner contact info incase the pet goes missing. You can also add other ID information to the profile, such as license tag, rabies tag, and microchip number. With Taganize, the possibilities are endless when it comes to what information you can store about your pet. Customize pages and download PDFs to fit your pet’s needs. An in-depth dog profile is helpful for not only pets with medical needs, but police dogs, dogs that frequently fly and travel, service dogs and more.

Taganize profile

For additional information on Taganize dog tags, visit dogtag.taganize.com or email John Tengstrom at [email protected].

Kennel License Tags for Commercial Breeders

If you are a county in one of the states who issue kennel license tags for commercial dog breeders, National Band & Tag is here to help!

Each state has its own definition of what a kennel, commercial breeder, and a pet store is. Generally, a “Kennel” means an enclosed, controlled area, inaccessible to other animals, in which a person keeps, harbors or maintains five or more dogs under controlled conditions. A general definition for a “commercial dog breeder” is someone who breeds a large number of dogs, within a certain time frame. Each state’s definitions, standards of care, licensing, registration and permits, and inspections can be viewed on this PDF, provided by the Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

For counties who need to issue kennel licensing tags, there are two main options to choose from:

Option 1: A tag to go on the kennel with corresponding tags for the dogs.

kennel tag and dog tag

kennel license tags that go on the cage

Option 2: No tag on the kennel, just tags for the dogs.

 

kennel licensing on dog tags example

However your county decides to do their kennel licensing tags, National Band & Tag has lots of customization options to fit your needs. You can shop by shape (square, round, oblong, rectangle, etc.). The most popular style for the tag that goes on the kennel is style #187. We have 11 different colors to choose from, so you can have a different color every year. Your custom stamping can have your county’s name, maximum dog limits, sequential numbering, year, and more. Contact us today for a free quote on kennel license tags!

(Please note – If you are a commercial dog breeder in need of a license or tags, please contact your county. We sell to the county, not the end-user).

 

National Pet ID Week

April 17th – 23rd is National Pet ID Week!

National Pet ID Week is for seven days starting April 17th. This national week gives pet owners a great opportunity to make sure their pet’s identification is up-to-date. ID tags and microchips give lost pets the best chance possible to be reunited with their owners.

It is estimated that one in three pets will go missing at some point in their life. According to the ASPCA, “Approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.3 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats. About 710,000 animals who enter shelters as strays are returned to their owners.”

How to Observe National Pet ID Week

Vets recommend every pet owner prepare for a lost pet. They say pet identification is a crucial step to keep pets safe. Even the most well-behaved cats and dogs can get lost, runoff unexpectedly or get separated from their owners.  Two popular ways to ID your pet, are to use a collar with a tag, and a microchip. Other identification methods include tattooing, QR Code Tags, GPS Collars, etc.

Collar tags are historically the most common, and the most recommended. Microchips are meant to be another level of protection, not a substitute. Pet owners can get personalized tags at local pet stores or online. This week, make sure your pet’s tags are correct and have the most up-to-date information on them. Also, check to make sure the information is readable and hasn’t been scratched or worn away. If you have “chipped” your pet with a microchip, this week is a good time to see that it is working and you are prepared to use it. Did you register your microchip? Do you have the microchip brand, the 1-800 number of the company, and the microchip number of your pet in an easily accessible place? These are all great questions to ask yourself, and ways to celebrate National Pet ID Week!

Use #NationalPetIDWeek and #PetIdWeek on social media to participate in the discussion

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™?

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/

License tags for counties, cities, and municipalities

Not sure which tag shape to get this year for your county, city, or municipality’s pet license program? Here are our top 3 most popular shapes for pet license tags:Top dog and cat license tags for cities and counties

 

The law requires pets to have a license tag, even if they never leave your property. A pet license tag attached to your pet’s collar is proof of ownership. Pets without a license tag can receive a fine, depending on the city or county. A license tag can help your dog or cat get home if they are lost and picked up by animal control because the license ID will be in the system with your name.

Let National Band & Tag help streamline your licensing program with our new barcoded strip-pak. Each bag has 1 tag, and 1 attachment, with a barcode and number so that you can assign license numbers to specific people.dog and cat license tag packaging with barcode

Leave us a comment below, which one of these 3 tag shapes is your favorite for pet license tags?

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.

Keysie – The Easy Keyring Opener

National Band & Tag is now a distributor of Keysie Co. and their new product, the Keysie! Keysie Co.’s motto, “We always found it difficult opening key rings with our fingernails, so we solved the problem”. Never break another nail trying to open a key ring to put a pet I.D. tag on again.

key ring opener

Keysie slides in and locks open your keyring, leaving you with both hands free. And what’s more, it attaches to your keyring, so it’s always there when you need it.

keysie key ring opener

Keysie – Style 1510S

Available in individual packs or packs of 100.

How to use the Keysie:

keysie instructions keysie instructions

Can I see some Pet ID?

It’s National Pet ID Week (April 16 – 23)! As a manufacturer of dog and cat rabies tags and license tags, we are proud promoters of National Pet ID Week! This week is used to make sure every pet’s identification tags and microchips are up to date.

bone tag pet id week

Some pet owners say their dog doesn’t wear an ID tag because their dog is always on a leash. Or, that their cat is an indoor cat, so they don’t even put a collar on them. A pet can always get lost, and an ID tag needs to be in place in case your pet makes an escape. Leashes can break, doors get left open, and natural disasters can happen. It’s better to be prepared when it comes to getting your pet returned to you, and something as simple as an ID tag is an easy solution to get behind. In ASPCA research, owners who’d lost a pet were asked if they ever thought they’d lose a pet in the way they did, and the majority said no, they never imagined that would happen to them.

If your pet does wear their ID tags, take a moment to make sure that information is still legible and up to date.  Worn and damaged tags, or tags with incorrect contact information won’t help when someone is trying to contact you to return your pet.

Celebrate Pet ID Week with us by sharing your pictures below of your pet wearing their ID tags!

Most Popular Pet License Tag by Shape

Did you know, National Band & Tag is located in Northern Kentucky, just across the river from Cincinnati, Ohio? We have been in Newport, Kentucky for over 116 years. To celebrate our great state of Kentucky, and all 7 states that border Kentucky, we found the most popular shaped pet license tag in each state for last year.

Check out all the tags shapes below:

KY- 270    IL- 165    TN – 137  IN – 173    VA – 365   MO – 516    WV – 166   OH – 161

2018 Rabies Tag Quick Ship

Are you a veterinarian running low on your 2018 rabies tag stock? It’s almost the end of the year, and if you need just a few more 2018 orange oval rabies tags to get you through December, try our generic 2018 rabies tags! These tags are in stock and ship out in 2 business days, instead of waiting 3+ weeks for your custom stamped rabies tags.

Orange Oval, Rabies Tag Quick Ship – Style # R228-2018

  • 2018 recommended style of the year, orange oval style # 228
  • Sold in sets of 100
  • Ships in 2 business days
  • 4-digit serial number with letter “B” prefix
  • Serial numbers will be in order, for example 1001-1100, but number sets are random, you may get for example 3401-3500.

 

If you have any questions about our Rabies Tag Quick Ship, please call us at 859-261-2035, or to place an order, fill out the online order form.

New Dog & Cat Tag Packaging

For the upcoming Rabies Tag and Pet License Tag Season, we are happy to present our newest packing option for dog and cat tags, Barcoded Strip-Pak! Strip-Pak is a plastic bag that holds 1 tag and 1 attachment. Bags are perforated on a continuous strip. Strip-Pak’s two new options are (1) Strip-Pak with a barcode and number on the bag (Style 5561X) and (2) Strip-Pak with barcode, logo, text and number on the bag (Style 5562X). Barcoded bags are helpful when you want to scan what number tags are given out into your system, or when assigning tag numbers to a specific person.

barcoded strip-pak for dog tags

Style 5561X

 

 

 

logo on packaging for dog tags

Style 5562X

For more information on how Barcoded Strip-Pak bags can be integrated into your rabies or licensing system, email us at [email protected].

Rabies Tags with No Year Date

Do you continuously run out of, or have too many Rabies Tags at your animal hospital or clinic? Don’t want to be limited by the date of when you can give your customers a Rabies Tag? Then try getting a Rabies Tag without the year date, or with just “20” stamped, so that you can hand stamp “19, 20, 21” etc., as needed. Our 2019 green bell (style 153) Rabies Tags can be customized to meet your needs, just let us know what you want stamped on your tags! Please note: aluminum rabies tags can be recycled at the end of the year if you have extra that you don’t need.

no year date rabies tag

Style 153 Green Bell

hand stamp sets

Style 1571 Number Hand Stamps