Tucson, AZ – Top Tag Pet ID was recently selected to help the Dogtown trainers and medical staff care for the 22 Vicktory dogs at Best Friends Animal Society. The tiny USB flash drives, housed in a waterproof case, are attached to the dogs’ collars. "They’ll contain key notes on the dogs’ progress—where they started, where they are now and how we got there," says trainer John Garcia.

John likes Top Tag for three reasons: the tag is better than paperwork, it stays with the dog and can be updated by the foster parents. This fits perfectly into the agreement with the federal government where each adoptable Vicktory dog must be fostered six to eight months before he or she can go to a forever home.

"If the foster parents add to the Top Tags," John says, "it will help us a lot more than a simple return sheet. The dogs will go home with six months of detailed information on their tags."

And if a dog needs some remedial training (the stress of change can sometimes affect a newly homed dog), the adopters can take the dog to a trainer, who can check the tag for data. John says, "The trainer can see what Best Friends was working on and what they did when the dog was exhibiting a particular behavior at the sanctuary."

The tags can also be useful in reporting back to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which tracks the progress of all the Vick dogs – the 22 at the sanctuary and the 25 placed at several other sanctuaries around the country.

The Top Tag program is self-contained on the flash drive, upscale and colorful. There are 7 major categories and 14 subcategories of pet care information which includes such subjects as Diet, Behavior, Words and Commands and Medical Information and it is as easy to use as e-mail. Users can start anywhere to enter or update information. “The biggest thing is that Top Tag will help us help the dogs,” John says. "The more we can document, the more we can help."

Top Tag co-founder Peter Norback who donated the Top Tags to Best Friends says his company is "very proud that Top Tag Pet ID is being used as a tool and a symbol to protect the welfare of the Vicktory dogs. When people see Top Tag on the collar of a Vicktory dog, they will know that this pit bull is very approachable, well-trained, well cared for and deeply loved.

"I think in the long run," he says, "when other pit bull guardians protect their pets with Top Tag, it could help this wonderful breed gain back its loving reputation."

Top Tag is programmed specifically for Windows Vista, XP, 2000, and Millennium (ME) operating systems and is priced reasonably at $39.95, making it possible for nearly everyone to buy a Top Tag Pet ID for their pets.

To purchase Top Tag Pet ID which benefits the important work of Best Friends Animal Society, visit BestFriends.org or TopTagPetID.com Order Page.

Selected paragraphs reprinted with permission from Best Friends Animal Society.

Visit the Best Friends web site to read more about the Vicktory Dogs.