By the LochTags team · Leduc, Alberta · June 15, 2026
Quick answer: An NFC pet ID tag is a battery-free tag on your pet's collar that any smartphone can read with a tap — and any phone with a browser can reach by typing the short code printed on the tag. A finder sees your pet's photo, vet and allergy info, and a private way to contact you, and you get an email within seconds of the scan. Setup takes minutes, and it works alongside — never instead of — your pet's microchip.
What an NFC pet ID tag is — and what it isn't
Let's be straight about this, because the category is confusing: an NFC pet ID tag is not a GPS or Bluetooth tracker. It can't show you where your pet is, and it doesn't broadcast anything. It works the other way around: when someone finds your pet and taps the tag, their phone opens your pet's profile and you get notified. An AirTag-style tracker helps you search; an NFC ID tag helps a stranger end the search. They solve different problems — and a lost pet benefits from both worlds, plus a microchip (more on that below).
The chip itself holds no personal data — only a short unique code that points to the profile you control. You can update your phone number, vet, or address anytime in the portal without touching the tag.
How to set it up, step by step
- Order the tag. One tag per pet (each tag maps to one profile), available in six colours. It arrives with its unique code on the chip and printed on the tag.
- Tap it — or type the code. iPhone 7 or newer (iOS 13+) and most NFC Androids read it with a tap. No NFC? Type the printed code at lochtags.com/p/CODE from any browser.
- Build the profile. Sign in and add a clear photo, breed, colour and weight, your vet clinic and an emergency contact, allergies and medications, and your pet's microchip number. It takes a few minutes, once.
- Test it. Tap the tag with your own phone and confirm the notification email lands. Now you know exactly what a finder will see.
What to put on the profile — a checklist that helps a finder help you
- A clear, recent photo so a finder can confirm they have the right animal.
- Vet clinic and an emergency contact — one tap to call either, even at 3 a.m.
- Medical flags: allergies, conditions, critical meds. A diabetic or epileptic pet's finder needs to know.
- Microchip number, so a shelter or vet can cross-reference instantly.
- Behaviour notes like "shy — please don't chase," which can keep a spooked pet from running farther.
- Privacy, your call: your phone and email are toggleable. By default a finder reaches you through a secure contact form — never your home address.
Will it replace a microchip? No — and the data says use both
A study of more than 7,700 stray animals in U.S. shelters (Lord et al., JAVMA, 2009) found microchipped dogs were returned to their owners 52.2% of the time versus 21.9% without a chip; for cats it was 38.5% versus 1.8% (Ohio State University, ScienceDaily). Microchips work — but only after someone takes the animal to a shelter or clinic with a scanner. A tag a neighbour can read on the sidewalk with their own phone can close the loop the same evening, no shelter visit required. So layer them: microchip underneath, visible tag on the collar, tappable profile behind it. We say this as a company that sells the tag: the microchip stays.
Lost Mode: when minutes matter
If your pet does slip out, flip Lost Mode in the portal. Anyone who scans the tag sees a red banner with last-seen info and an optional reward, and you're notified the moment they tap. One thing to know about rewards: any reward you offer is strictly between you and the finder — LochTags doesn't hold or guarantee payouts.
FAQ: what pet owners actually ask
Does an NFC pet tag need an app or a battery?
No. The chip is passive — it draws power from the phone that taps it, so there's nothing to charge and nothing for the finder to install. The sealed chip is waterproof and rated for 100,000+ scans, and the tag body is weather-resistant for everyday Canadian weather.
Can I track my pet's location with it?
No. It's not a GPS or Bluetooth tracker and can't show you where your pet is right now. The optional Pro scan history shows where and when the tag was last scanned — useful after the fact, but it is not live tracking.
Which phones work?
iPhone 7 or newer (iOS 13+) and most NFC-capable Androids read the tag with a tap. Every tag also has its code printed on it, so any phone with a browser — even a flip phone — works at lochtags.com/p/CODE.
Is there a subscription?
No subscription required. Free for life: the finder page, email alerts, photo and profile, vet and allergy info, and Lost Mode with reward. The optional Pro add-on ($19.99/yr — about $2.49/mo, 30-day free trial) adds SMS alerts, scan history, location alerts, a free yearly replacement tag, recovery credit, and priority support.
How much is it, and where do you ship?
The LochTags Pet ID Tag is $14.99 CAD at launch (regularly $24.99), one tag per pet, six colours. We ship across Canada and the US; USD is shown at checkout.
The bottom line
Engraved tags fade, phones change, and microchips only speak to scanners. A five-minute profile your whole neighbourhood can read is cheap insurance. LochTags is veteran-founded and built in Leduc, Alberta — if you have questions we didn't cover here, our FAQ covers the whole system, and NFC vs traditional pet tags vs microchips goes deeper. Travelling with the pet? The same idea protects your bag: see the Premium Travel Tag.