Aside from their endearing iconography (the silhouette of a bell), 2023 rabies tags are this year’s must-have fashion accessory for dogs (and cats!) for one primary reason: they keep everyone—pets and people—safe. And it’s no wonder why: they are a conspicuous visual cue that an animal has been inoculated against the deadly rabies virus, among the most monstrous known to humanity.
The sight of such a tag pendant on the collar of a wandering dog that has perhaps strayed too far beyond its owner’s watchful gaze is a welcome one, as well as being the only mode of communication our furry companions possess through which to inform us that they’re up to date on their vaccines (at least until someone finally teaches Border Collies how to talk).