My pal Buster’s Together Tag arrived in the mail on Saturday and he is now sporting it on his collar.

Together Tag is a new dog and cat pet tag service made by Dogster/Catster in partnership with The American Red Cross. Each tag contains a unique identification number, as well as the pet’s name and owner’s phone number. The identification number can be used to look up information on lost pets through a dedicated website.

The tag itself is, in my opinion, very well designed. The relevant information is protected by a thick layer of epoxy so it is unlikely to wear off or fade. The collar attachment is sturdy and unlikely to break.

The Together Tag website (http://www.togethertag.com) is user friendly. When Buster’s tag arrived I typed his ID number into the site and a page featuring his photo, contact phone numbers, veterinary information, and behavior traits came up. If he ever gets lost, the person who finds him will know that he loves to play fetch and sometimes has poor recall when he’s not on leash.

I like the concept of the Together Tag because it allows pet owners to provide as much (or as little) information as they desire to anyone who recovers their pet after he or she is lost. If your pet needs medications or has special dietary needs, you can mention these things on your pet’s profile. The profile also can be used to keep track of veterinary checkups, vaccination dates, and medical conditions.

The Together Tag is not a substitute for microchipping. Nor, for that matter, is microchipping a substitute for the Together Tag. Microchips cannot be lost, and they remain the most effective way to identify your pet permanently. However, to be useful they must be scanned with a special device that is not available to the general public. Anyone with an internet connection can use the Together Tag. Buster has both a microchip and a Together Tag.

Please note that I was not involved in the development of the Together Tag and I will not profit personally from its success. However, I am very impressed with the system and I strongly recommend it.