Pet Emergency Card
Pet Emergency Card — Free Printable Lost-Pet ID with Owner Phone & Microchip
A wallet- or fridge-sized card you fill out in 3 minutes — owner phone, microchip ID, vet contact, allergies, and an optional reward note. Print at home. 100% private: nothing leaves your device.
In an emergency, call your local emergency number first — 911 (US/Canada), 999 (UK), 1122 (Pakistan), 112 (EU). This card is a supplement, not a substitute, for medical care.
What is a pet emergency card?
A pet emergency card is a printable ID card for your dog, cat, or other pet that lists the information a finder, sitter, or veterinarian needs in an emergency: your phone number, your pet’s microchip ID, your vet’s contact, and any medical conditions, medications, or allergies.
It complements a collar tag (which can fall off) and the microchip registry (which requires scanning equipment) — so anyone who finds your pet can phone you within seconds.
What to include on a pet emergency card
The card has limited space. Include only what helps a finder, sitter, or vet act correctly in the next 60 seconds.
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Your phone number — large and easy to read. This is the single most important field. Make it the biggest text on the card. Use a number that rings on your mobile, not a landline you rarely answer.
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Pet’s name. Helps a finder calm and call your pet. Names build trust quickly with frightened animals.
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Species, breed, and color / markings. Confirms identity if the pet is found far from home or has lost its collar. Distinct markings (white chest, missing tooth, three-legged) are especially useful.
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Microchip ID. A 9-, 10-, or 15-digit number assigned by the registry (HomeAgain, AKC Reunite, AVID, ISO standard, etc.). Vets and shelters can confirm ownership immediately.
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Vet name and phone. A vet who already has your pet’s records can advise on emergency treatment without needing your authorization to access history.
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Allergies, medications, and medical conditions. Examples: diabetic and on insulin, epileptic, allergic to chicken, on Apoquel daily. The vet treating your pet in your absence will thank you.
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Backup contact (optional). A spouse, neighbor, or trusted friend who can take the pet if you can’t be reached. Give them advance notice that they’re listed.
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Reward note (optional). A brief line such as “Reward offered — no questions asked” motivates finders to call instead of keeping the pet. You don’t need to specify an amount.
What to avoid: your home address (a stranger doesn’t need it), Social Security or national ID, vet account login codes, and photos that contain identifying landmarks. The phone number is enough.
When a printed pet card matters
Lost or escaped pet
Collars come off, gates blow open, and pets bolt during fireworks or storms. A wallet card pinned to the leash bag stays in place; a fridge card lets a neighbor read your number after they’ve coaxed your dog into their yard.
Vet or ER visit when you’re not the one driving
A pet sitter, dog walker, or family member calling 911 for a pet still needs to give the vet your number, the microchip, the medications, and the conditions. Handing them the printed card avoids a panicked phone tree.
Boarding, grooming, or daycare
Most facilities ask for emergency contacts, vet info, and medical conditions on intake. Tucking the printed card into the carrier saves you from filling the same form four times a year.
Evacuation kits and travel
In a wildfire, hurricane, or earthquake evacuation, you may end up at a shelter that doesn’t accept pets, or a friend’s house in a new area. A copy in your go-bag means anyone helping with the pet has the same information you do.
Where to keep the printed card
- Front door, inside. A pet sitter or first responder entering your home sees the fridge card and your phone first.
- Pet carrier or travel crate. Tape a wallet card to the inside lid so it stays with the pet during a vet visit.
- Leash bag or daily walk pouch. Slip a wallet card into the same pocket you carry waste bags.
- Your wallet and your partner’s wallet. Two copies, two pockets.
- Boarding intake folder. Hand it over with the rest of the paperwork.
- Evacuation go-bag. Keep one copy with the pet’s carrier and food.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to make your pet’s card?
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Create Pet CardSources
We cite primary, authoritative sources. Read our editorial standards for how we research and verify information.
- American Veterinary Medical Association — How microchips help reunite lost pets — FAQ
- American Animal Hospital Association — Canine and feline preventive care: identification
- American Kennel Club — What to do if your dog is lost
- ASPCA — Disaster preparedness for pets