Pet registration, search, and retrieval system

Abstract

A nationwide, web-based pet registration, search and retrieval system. The system is implemented with a host computer ( 10 ) that may be accessed by users operating user computers ( 12 ) via a communications network ( 14 ) such as the Internet. Pet owners may register their pet with the host computer and finders of lost pets may search the host computer in an attempt to locate the owners of lost pets. Preferably, the rabies vaccinated pet wears a single multi-purpose tag which communicates both the pet's rabies vaccination information and information for reuniting the pet with its owner. Rabies vaccination is not a prerequisite, however, and almost any relatively unique identifier will work, including microchip numbers, tattoos, other types of identification tags, etc. The system also allows an owner to license the pet with a participating municipality.

1 . A rabies tag comprising a body including a first side and a second side, the first side comprising rabies information, and the second side comprising information for accessing a host computer over a communications network for entering the rabies information.  
   
   
       2 . The rabies tag of  claim 1  wherein the information for accessing the host computer comprises a uniform resource locator address.  
   
   
       3 . The rabies tag of  claim 1  wherein the information for accessing the host computer comprises an address of the host computer accessible over an internet.  
   
   
       4 . The rabies tag of  claim 1  wherein the rabies information comprises a veterinarian's name and phone number, a year indicator, and a plurality of alpha-numeric digits.  
   
   
       5 . A rabies tag comprising a first side and a second side, the first side comprising rabies information, and the second side comprising pet registration information for accessing a host computer and locating a lost pet or the owner of a lost pet with the host computer.  
   
   
       6 . The rabies tag of  claim 5  wherein the pet registration information comprises an address of the host computer accessible over a communications network for entering the rabies information.  
   
   
       7 . The rabies tag of  claim 5  wherein the pet registration information comprises a uniform resource locator address for accessing the host computer over a communications network.  
   
   
       8 . The rabies tag of  claim 5  wherein the pet registration information comprises an address of the host computer accessible over an internet for entering the rabies information.  
   
   
       9 . The rabies tag of  claim 5  wherein the rabies information comprises a veterinarian's name and phone number, a year indicator, and a plurality of alpha-numeric digits.  
   
   
       10 . A rabies tag comprising a body including a first side and a second side, the first side comprising rabies information, and the second side comprising information for accessing a host computer on a communications network for entering the rabies information from the first side, the information for accessing the host computer comprising a uniform resource locator address.  
   
   
       11 . The rabies tag of  claim 10  wherein the rabies information comprises a veterinarian's name and phone number, a year indicator, and a plurality of alpha-numeric digits.  
   
   
       12 . A method for enabling locating a lost pet comprising: 
 providing a rabies tag with a body including a first side and a second side, the first side comprising rabies information, and the second side comprising information for accessing a host computer over a communications network for entering the rabies information.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein providing the second side with the information for accessing the host computer comprises providing the second side with a uniform resource locator address.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein providing the second side with the information for accessing the host computer comprises providing the second side with an address of the host computer on an internet.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein providing the first side with the rabies information comprises providing the first side with a veterinarian's name and phone number, a year indicator, and a plurality of alpha-numeric digits.  
   
   
       16 . A method for enabling locating a lost pet comprising: 
 providing a rabies tag with a first side and a second side, the first side comprising rabies information, and the second side comprising pet registration information for accessing a host computer and locating a lost pet or the owner of a lost pet with the host computer.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein providing the second side with the pet registration information comprises providing the second side with an address of the host computer accessible over a communications network for entering the rabies information.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein providing the second side with the pet registration information comprises providing the second side with a uniform resource locator address for accessing the host computer over a communications network.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein providing the second side with the pet registration information comprises providing the second side with an address of the host computer accessible over an internet for entering the rabies information.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein providing the first side with the rabies information comprises providing the first side with a veterinarian's name and phone number, a year indicator, and a plurality of alpha-numeric digits.