Cobb program makes it easier to find missing animals

Cobb County residents can find lost pets easier through a new program that provides digital identification tags.

Cobb County Public Safety Department staff has partnered with PetHub.com to offer the tags to help increase the chances of finding missing pets. The base charge is $10. Residents have proof of rabies vaccinations for their pets.

This new licensing program kicks off on Wednesday.

The program is only available for animals living in the county which is home to an estimated 300,000 cats and dogs . Anyone who registers a new pet license through the website will receive the new digital ID tag.

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Here’s how it works:

PetHub's system links a physical ID tag to an animal's online profile that can be accessed through an encrypted connection by anyone with a mobile phone.

The profile can be updated, allowing owners to list emergency contact information. Optional upgrades include "found pet" alerts, GPS notifications and a way to broadcast a missing pet's profile to local shelters and businesses. PetHub will donate a portion of proceeds from optional premium services to Cobb County Animal Control.

About the Author

Shelia Poole

Shelia has worked at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for more than 30 years. Previously, she worked at The Lexington Herald-Leader and The Louisville Defender. Her beat is a bit of a mixed bag that includes religion and spirituality, culture and trends, race and aging. She earned degrees from Spelman College and Northwestern University.