Although our three of ours are microchipped, they wear their collars all the time. One time I didn't get the gate closed tight, and the dogs got out. A neighbor got our number of Spot's collar, and called. They were all back in the front yard before I knew they were gone, but if a neighbor hadn't seen them right away and called, who knows?

On the other side of it, Cincy got her collar stuck on the van seat one day, as we were on our way to the dog park. I was on the Interstate and heard her breathing really weird. I pulled off at an exit, and found she was being choked by her collar. We use premier collars, so their is no clasp to unbuckle. I had to untwist it and free it, without taking it off her head. I was scared to death! I now keep something in each car that can be used to cut a seatbelt, or a dog collar if the need arises, but I still feel the tags are too important, to not keep their collars on them.