What to Do if You Find a Pet with Only a Rabies Tag | PetBridge

Helping Lost Pets Get Home, One Tag at a Time

If you’ve found a pet with only a rabies tag and no visible name tag or microchip, don’t worry; there are still steps you can take to help that animal get home safely.  

At PetBridge, we help shelters save lives with our animal shelter software and pet adoption apps, and that includes helping lost pets find their way back home. While our rabies tag lookup feature is no longer active, this guide can help you make the most of the information on a rabies tag and point you toward the next best steps.

Understand Rabies Tags: What They Can Tell You 

Rabies tags often include: 

• A unique identification number 

• The year of vaccination 

• The veterinary clinic’s name or abbreviation 

• Occasionally, the clinic’s location or phone number 

This information doesn’t provide direct access to the pet owner, but it can help you locate the clinic that administered the vaccine. Most veterinary clinics keep vaccination records and may be able to assist in contacting the pet’s guardian.  

What To Do First 

1. Examine the Tag for Clues 

Look closely at the tag. Is there a vet name, city, or number? A simple web search with the clinic name or rabies tag number may help you locate the issuing clinic.  

2. Contact the Veterinary Clinic 

Once you’ve identified the clinic, call them directly. Veterinary staff typically cannot provide owner information due to privacy policies, but they may be able to reach out to the owner on your behalf. 

3. Reach Out to Local Animal Control or Shelters 

Some animal service departments keep a record of rabies tags issued in their area. Calling local shelters or animal control may help you cross-reference the tag or access additional information.  

4. Search Lost & Found Pet Databases 

Sites like Petco Love Lost, PawBoost, and even neighborhood-specific platforms like Nextdoor or Facebook groups are useful for posting about a found pet. Include photos of the pet and a clear description of the rabies tag (year, number, and any text). 

5. Take the Pet to a Vet or Shelter for Scanning 

Even if there’s no microchip visible, many pets are chipped without tags. A quick scan at a local vet or shelter could provide more information.  

State-by-State Differences in Rabies Tag Tracking 

Rabies vaccination requirements and tag tracking protocols vary by state, county, or even veterinary practice. Some states have centralized databases through public health departments, while others rely on local vet clinics or municipalities. 

If you’re unsure where to start, your local animal control office or public health department can help determine whether a government agency or veterinary clinic issued the tag.  

Tips for Shelters and Animal Welfare Organizations 

If you’re part of a shelter or rescue organization, here’s how you can support people who find pets with rabies tags: 

• Maintain a list of local vet clinics and the tag styles they typically use. 

• Train staff and volunteers on how to assist the public with rabies-tag-only intakes. 

• Offer a printable or digital flyer on what to do if someone finds a pet with a rabies tag. 

• Promote visible ID tags and microchipping to reduce reliance on harder-to-trace tags.  

• Highlight this process during Lost Pet Prevention Month in July to increase public awareness.  

Providing clear, friendly guidance builds trust with your community and increases the chances of getting lost pets home quickly. 

Why Rabies Tags Still Matter 

While they may not offer direct owner information that a microchip does, rabies tags still play a valuable role in lost pet recovery. They can: 

• Help identify the clinic that vaccinated the pet. 

• Indicate whether the pet is up to date on vaccines. 

• Give animal control or shelters a lead to follow when no microchip or name tag is present.  

Encouraging pet owners to keep tags updated and easily readable can make all the difference when pets go missing.  

Continuing Our Mission at PetBridge 

Although our rabies tag database feature is now deprecated, PetBridge remains committed to helping shelters save lives with technology, and reuniting lost pets is a big part of that mission. Our shelter software and online tools make it easy to manage found pets, streamline public communication, and increase the success of reunification efforts.  

If you’re a shelter looking to improve your lost-and-found workflows or better serve your community, PetBridge is here to help.