Business & Tech

Algonquin Man Creates Tags to Assist Area Shelters

Pet owners can treasure the tag adorned with their furry friend's photograph, while 50 percent of proceeds benefit area animal shelters.

Grandmothers for years have carried in their purses pictures of their grandchildren to share and brag about with their friends.

Now an Algonquin businessman is etching the way for proud pet owners to carry pictures of their beloved furry family mates anywhere they go.

Don Taubin, owner of HiTech Etch in Algonquin, has created “human tags,” the pet owners’ equivalent of dog tags.

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Taubin adorns the tags with a photograph of the beloved pet — be it dog, cat, hamster, etc. — and etches its name and any additional wording the owner requests on the back of the tag.

“People put them on their key chains, hang them from mirrors on their car, or wear them around their neck,” Taubin said.

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Human tags cost $9.99.  

But the project isn’t just about helping pet lovers themselves.

Since November, Taubin has started donating 50 percent of the money generated by tag sales to area pet shelters. He is joining forces with area animal shelters such as On Angel’s Wings, Animal House, and Anderson Animal Shelter, he said.  

“I started this because I like animals,” Taubin said. “I wanted to find a way to raise money for area shelters, and make (the donations) worth their while. I’m working with the shelters to get them to promote it, too.”

Taubin is working to expand his Human Tag pet shelter project regionally and in other states.

Customers can purchase Human Tags by visiting the HiTech Etch website.  

From there, they select the tag color and the shelter they wish their funds to assist.

They also must send a photograph of their beloved furry companion to humantags@gmail.com. People can use PayPal or send a check via mail to pay for their tags, Taubin said.

The Human Tags project is part of an etching business Taubin has run for the past three years.

He etches marketing materials, such as stainless steel water bottles, but also custom-etches customers’ names and business information upon laptop computers, iPads, iPods, and the like.


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