Smart Tags Coming to Ventura County Animal Services

VENTURA COUNTY — Effective Tuesday, September 1, 2020, all new pet licenses purchased or renewed through Ventura County Animal Services will be powered by PetHub.  These state-of-the-art “Smart Tags” feature unique QR codes that, when scanned by a smartphone, displays contact information which the pet owner has specifically chosen to share.  Pet owners have full control over what information is provided to Good Samaritans who find their lost pet.

Once pet owners receive their pet’s Smart Tag in the mail, it will need to be activated by visiting www.PetHub.com/VenturaCounty.  After activating the tag, pet owners have the option of entering information about their pet into their PetHub account; information such as their pet’s vaccination history and any medications they are on.  These smart tags do not need to be replaced when renewing a pet’s license.  When it is time to renew their license, pet owners will simply pay the normal license renewal fee and continue using their pet’s existing smart tag.  Pet owners can upgrade or replace their pet’s existing metal tag to a PetHub Smart Tag for only $10 by visiting www.vcas.us/licensing.  Replacing a pet’s metal license tag with a PetHub tag is not required.

“We are very excited to bring this new, powerful tool to Ventura County.  This technology will help reunite pets with their families much faster than with traditional metal tags!  Our hope is that Good Samaritans can scan a lost pet’s Smart Tag and contact the owner right away to pick up their pet without needing to bring them to the shelter.”  Said, Jackie Rose, Director of Ventura County Animal Services.

Most smartphones already have QR Code readers built into the software that runs their phone’s camera.  Someone who finds a lost pet simply holds their phone’s camera up to the QR code and a link will appear which takes them to the pet owners’ contact information.  There’s no need to download a separate app to scan these codes.

VCAS is asking all pet owners to, “Join the Pack” and get their pet licensed with a Smart Tag from PetHub.  For questions relating the features of the PetHub smart tag, please email PetHub at support@pethub.com or visit www.pethub.com.

Ventura County Animal Services

For additional information, please visit www.vcas.us.