What happens when someone scans my pet tag?
A plain-English walkthrough of exactly what happens from the moment a stranger scans your pet's QR tag to the moment you get your pet back.
Last updated · by Dan Holland, Founder
When a stranger finds your pet and points their phone camera at the QR code on the collar tag, a specific sequence of events unfolds — all of them private, all of them working toward one goal: getting your pet home faster.
What the finder sees
The QR code resolves to your pet's public profile page. No app download, no sign-up. The finder sees:
- Your pet's name and photo
- A physical description (breed, colour, size, age)
- Any safety notes you've added — allergies, medical conditions, nervous behaviour
- Your pet's microchip number (if you've added it)
- A prominent "Help me get home" button
That's it. No surname, no address, no email, no mobile number, no account details. Just the information you chose to display on your pet's profile. Only the information you have explicitly enabled for sharing is shown to finders — your mobile number is never visible to them unless you have specifically enabled it on your pet's profile.
When they tap "Help me get home"
The finder taps the button and is prompted to share their location — just location permission, nothing else. Once they allow it, two things happen simultaneously:
- You receive an SMS and email with the finder's location on a map (accurate to about 10 metres via what3words), a rough description of where they are, and the time of the scan.
- The finder receives a confirmation text letting them know you've been alerted and someone is on the way.
All up to five contacts you have nominated (you, a partner, a family member, your vet, your dog walker) receive the same alert at the same time. No one has to be the sole point of contact.
Privacy at every step
What the finder sees is entirely determined by what you have chosen to enable on your pet's profile. You receive the finder's location via SMS and email, and can reply via the relay system without either party seeing the other's real phone number. You can also choose to share your number directly with a specific finder if you prefer to speak in person — but that is always your decision.
If you prefer not to share your number at all, the relay system works both ways: you can send a message to the finder and they reply, all without either party seeing the other's real phone number.
If your pet is already flagged as missing
When you mark your pet as missing from your dashboard, the public profile updates automatically to show a prominent "This pet is currently missing" banner. Anyone who scans the tag — even out of curiosity — will see this and know to take action.
What you can update after the tag is made
The QR code encodes a URL — it links to your pet profile, not to physical information on the tag itself. This means you can update everything on the profile at any time without needing a new tag: change the photo, update the emergency contacts, revise the safety notes, add the microchip number after your vet implants one.
The tag stays the same. The information behind it can change as often as you like, for the lifetime of the tag. And unlike the weeks of posters, phone calls and vet visits a missing pet can generate, a Snifftag subscription costs from £2.50 / $2.99 a month — which is less than most single lost-pet poster runs. See what a missing pet actually costs.
Frequently asked questions
Does the finder need to download an app?
No. The scan works through any phone's camera — just point it at the QR code and the pet's profile opens in a browser. No app store, no sign-up, no account required.
Will the finder see my phone number?
No. Only the information you have explicitly enabled for sharing is shown to the finder — your pet's photo, description, any notes you have added. Your phone number is not visible to them unless you have specifically enabled it on your pet's profile. You can choose to share your number with a specific finder if you want to text them directly, but that is always your decision.
What information does the finder see on the profile?
The public profile shows your pet's name, photo, description, and any safety notes you've added (allergies, behaviour, medical conditions). It also shows the <a href="/microchip-vs-qr-tag" className="text-brand-700 font-medium underline underline-offset-2 hover:text-brand-900">microchip number</a> if you've added it. Nothing else — no address, no surname, no account details.
What happens after they tap "Help me get home"?
We send you an SMS and email simultaneously with the finder's location (accurate to about 10 metres via what3words), a link to a map, and the finder's approximate direction. You can then go and collect your pet. The finder gets a confirmation text so they know help is on the way.
Can I update the information on the tag after I've ordered it?
Yes. The QR code links to your online pet profile, not to the physical tag itself. You can update the photo, description, phone numbers, and safety notes at any time from your dashboard — the tag stays the same but the information behind it can change as often as you like.
What if someone scans the tag just to look at the information?
The profile is public but read-only — no one can edit it without access to your Snifftag account. There's no commercial use of the scan data and we don't share or sell finder information.
What if my pet is lost and I haven't flagged it yet?
When you mark your pet as lost in your dashboard, the public profile displays a prominent 'This pet is currently missing' banner. Finders who scan will see this immediately and are prompted to share their location to help you reunite.