What to Include in Your Pet's Profile
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You've got your Meatball QR tag. You've scanned it. Now you're staring at a blank profile thinking, "What exactly should I put here?"
Here's the thing: the information you include in your pet's profile could be the difference between a quick reunion and days of searching. But it's also about balance—you want to share enough to help, without oversharing personal details that make you uncomfortable.
This guide will walk you through exactly what to include, what to skip, and how to make your pet's profile work hard for you in an emergency.
The Essentials (Never Skip These)
1. A Clear, Recent Photo
Why it matters: When someone finds your pet, they need to confirm it's actually yours. A clear face photo removes any doubt and speeds up reunification.
What works best:
- Front-facing photo showing your pet's face clearly
- Good lighting (natural daylight is best)
- No filters or heavy editing
- Taken within the last 6 months
Pro tip: If your pet has distinctive markings (a white patch, unusual colouring, scars), take a second photo highlighting these. Upload both.
2. Your Pet's Name
Why it matters: If someone is trying to calm your frightened dog or coax your hiding cat out from under a car, knowing their name helps enormously.
What to include:
- The name your pet actually responds to (not their official pedigree name)
- Any nicknames they know
Example: "Name: Max (also responds to Maxie)"
3. Basic Description
Why it matters: Helps confirm identity, especially if your pet looks similar to others in the area.
What to include:
- Breed (or best guess if mixed)
- Colour/markings
- Size/weight (approximate)
- Age
- Sex
Example: "3-year-old male Cocker Spaniel, golden brown with white chest patch, approx 14kg"
4. Your Contact Preferences
Why it matters: This is how someone will reach you. Meatball's system keeps your phone number private—finders message you through the app, and you get notified immediately.
What to set up:
- Enable push notifications on your phone
- Make sure your email is current (you'll get notifications there too)
Privacy win: Your actual phone number is never displayed to the finder. They can only message you through the secure chat system.
Critical Medical Information
5. Medications and Health Conditions
Why it matters: If your pet is found injured, unwell, or has been missing for hours, this information could save their life.
What to include:
- Current medications (name and dosage)
- Chronic conditions (diabetes, epilepsy, heart conditions)
- Allergies (food, medications, environmental)
- Recent surgeries or injuries
Example: "Takes 5mg Vetmedin twice daily for heart condition. Allergic to chicken. Do not give treats without checking ingredients."
What to skip: You don't need to include minor historical issues (like that ear infection from 2 years ago).
6. Anxiety or Behavioral Notes
Why it matters: Helps finders approach your pet safely and understand their behavior.
What to include:
- Fear triggers (loud noises, men, other dogs)
- Anxiety issues (separation anxiety, fireworks phobia)
- Aggression warnings (if applicable)
- Whether they're likely to run or hide
Example: "Very nervous around strangers—may hide or run. Not aggressive but scared of loud noises. Responds well to calm, quiet voices and treats."
Be honest: If your dog has aggression issues, you MUST disclose this for everyone's safety.
Helpful Context (Makes Reunification Easier)
7. Typical Location/Walking Routes
Why it matters: Helps people understand if your pet is far from home or just on their usual route.
What to include:
- General area you live (no need for exact address)
- Common walking spots
- Places your pet might head if lost
Example: "Usually walks around Clapham Common and Wandsworth Common. Lives in SW11 area. May head toward the river."
Privacy balance: You don't need to give your house number, just enough context to help.
8. Personality Traits
Why it matters: Helps finders interact with your pet appropriately and reassures them about your pet's temperament.
What to include:
- Friendly or nervous with strangers
- Good with other dogs/cats/children
- Food motivated (useful for catching them)
- Any quirks that help identify them
Example: "Extremely friendly and loves everyone. Will come running for treats—especially cheese. Distinctive bark sounds like a howl."
9. Lost/Home Status
Why it matters: This is the big one. When your pet goes missing, you need to update their status immediately.
How to use it:
- HOME: Normal status, pet is safe
- LOST: Pet is missing—this triggers urgent mode and shows finders that you're actively searching
When to update:
- The second you realize your pet is missing, log in and change status to LOST
- Add details: when last seen, what they were wearing, any relevant circumstances
- Change back to HOME once they're found
What NOT to Include
Your Home Address
The Meatball system doesn't require your full address. General area is enough.
Your Phone Number in the Description
It's already in the system (kept private). No need to add it to the public-facing profile.
Irrelevant Personal Details
Your pet's favourite toy, their Instagram handle, or their star sign—while cute—doesn't help in an emergency.
Outdated Information
If your pet's medication changes, update it immediately. Stale information is worse than no information.
How to Write Effective Profile Information
Be concise: "Nervous around strangers, may hide" is better than a 500-word essay about your dog's childhood trauma.
Be specific: "Takes 10mg Metacam once daily" is better than "takes pain medication."
Be honest: If your dog might bite when scared, say so. If your cat scratches, mention it. Safety first.
Use simple language: Not everyone knows dog breeds or medical terms. "Medium-sized brown dog" is clearer than "liver-colored working cocker."
A Complete Profile Example
Name: Luna
Photo: [Clear face shot showing distinctive white eyebrow marking]
Description: 5-year-old female Border Collie, black and white, approx 18kg. Distinctive white marking above left eye. Nervous around strangers and may run away if approached directly. Very food motivated—responds well to treats. Not aggressive but will hide if scared. Scared of fireworks and thunder.
Medical: No current medications. Allergic to beef—do not give beef-based treats or food.
Status: HOME ✓
Keeping Your Profile Updated
Set a reminder to review your pet's profile every 3 months:
- Is the photo still current?
- Have medications changed?
- Have you moved house or changed walking routes?
- Is your contact information still correct?
Life changes that require immediate updates:
- Moving house
- Changing phone number/email
- New medications or health conditions
- Change in behavior (new anxiety triggers, etc.)
The Profile That Saves Time (and Lives)
Here's what happens when someone scans your pet's QR code:
With a complete profile:
- Scan → instant photo confirmation → "Yes, this is Luna"
- See medical info → "She's allergic to beef, I won't give her that treat"
- Read behavior notes → "She's nervous, I'll sit down and let her come to me"
- Message owner through app → "Found Luna on Durdham Downs, she's safe"
- Owner gets notification with exact location → reunion within 20 minutes
With an incomplete profile:
- Scan → no photo → "Is this the right dog?"
- No medical info → gives beef treat → allergic reaction
- No behavior notes → approaches quickly → dog runs away scared
- Can't contact owner → takes dog to shelter → 24-hour wait
The difference is massive.
Getting Started
If you haven't set up your profile yet:
- Log into app.meatball.uk
- Click on your pet's profile
- Work through this checklist
- Save and test by scanning your QR code
If you already have a profile:
- Review it against this guide
- Fill in any gaps
- Remove outdated information
- Update your photo if needed
The Bottom Line
Your pet's profile is their voice when they can't speak for themselves. It tells finders who they are, what they need, and how to help them get home safely.
Five minutes setting it up properly could save hours—or days—of searching.
Ready to set up your pet's profile? Get your Meatball QR code bundle at meatball.uk. Choose £10 one-off or £6.99/month with free lifetime replacements.