He stays out until 3 a.m., runs with this really wild pack, and never calls to say he'll be late.

Worrying about him on these hot summer nights drives you crazy, but before you chain him in the backyard, remember that a dog's life isn't always easy (though if you want to put a leash on your teenager, that's a different story).

Dogs have a natural tendency to wander, and it can be hard for one to watch his lucky owners head off to Bali, the South of France, or even Milwaukee, knowing the only summer vacation he'll take is a trip through the cornfield.

Unfortunately, most canine ventures are slightly less glamorous and far more dangerous than human ones, since Rover might catch a whiff of Farmer Brown's new manure or notice that the woman next door puts steak in her table scraps, but he won't always remember the way home.

Pets--cats, too, of course--that roam can cause plenty of heartache for their owners (the really dedicated ones might even come home from Bali early). What if they get hurt? What if they never come home? What if somebody steals them?

To ensure that your pooch doesn't become a "little dog lost," Dr. Bill Smith of the Nashville Road Animal Hospital suggests the Home Again microchip identification system.

This simple procedure (which can be performed at Smith's office or at the Logan County Animal Clinic of Dr. Jon Todd and Dr. David Woodall) involves embedding a microchip underneath a cat or dog's skin via a syringe, the same way a vet gives a rabies shot.

It's called a microchip for a reason--Dr. Smith reveals that the Home Again device is "3/8 of an inch long, the size of a pencil lead." In fact, the vet even has one embedded in his keychain to show people what they look like.

But how in the world will something so miniscule help your pet? When the nonirritating microchip is inserted between an animal's shoulder blades and he is registered with the national Home Again database (for $12.50), he is given an identification number that is as individual as a fingerprint.

That way, Smith explains, if your dog or cat is stolen or gets lost while traveling and winds up at an animal shelter or clinic, even as far away as Hawaii, the chip can be read with a special scanner; then, you and your pet can be reunited (and it feels so good).

In fact, Smith believes in the idea so much that he not only bought a scanner for his office, he donated one to the Logan County Humane Society.

"It's a step toward modernizing the shelter," he declares, and goes on to offer one more reason to get your dog microchipped and clipped. "If a dog comes in that's obviously well-cared for, they'll scan it."

With hunting season coming up, the Home Again microchip has other attributes. "For valuable hunting dogs, this is a mark no one else can duplicate," Smith says. Unlike spots, he adds, with a microchip between a dog's shoulders, there would be no question of ownership should your beagles go wandering in the wrong woods this fall.

Yes, it's a scary world out there for animals, but thanks to our local vets and humane society, it might be getting a whole lot safer.

And remember, it's not that your pet doesn't care when he goes out gallivanting all hours of the night. Home is where a dog's heart is, but sometimes, he's just got to follow his nose.