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The groomer, kennel or landlord wants proof — and the paper is gone. Good news: the record isn't lost, it's just somewhere else. Here's exactly where to look, in order.
Updated October 2026
Call or log in to the clinic that gave the shots — they keep the original and can email it, usually the same day. Search your email for past visit summaries. For rabies, your city or county animal services often has the record tied to your pet's license or tag number.
Losing the paper doesn't mean losing the record. Every vaccine your pet received is on file at the clinic that gave it, and rabies shots are often also on file with your city or county through the license. You just need to ask the right place.
They hold the original record and can email a copy or reissue a rabies certificate, usually the same day. If you used a chain or pop-up clinic, use their online portal or central phone line instead of the store — see the chain guides below.
Many clinics email records after every visit, and they often land in spam or promotions. Search your inbox for the clinic name, "medical record", "vaccination" or "rabies certificate".
Pet licenses are usually tied to the rabies vaccine. Many animal-services offices can look up your pet by license or rabies tag number and tell you which clinic vaccinated them. Some offer an online tag lookup.
The tag number traces back to the issuing clinic or county — there's no single national database. See our rabies tag lookup guide.
If no record can be found, your vet may recommend repeating core vaccines. Antibody (titer) tests exist for some diseases, but a titer does not replace a legally required rabies vaccine.
| Where you went | Fastest way to get records |
|---|---|
| Petco / Vetco | Emailed PDF after each visit; download online. Guide → |
| Banfield | MyBanfield app or website → records. Guide → |
| VCA | myVCA app, or ask your local VCA hospital. Guide → |
| Tractor Supply PetVet | My Pet Portal (VIP Petcare). Guide → |
The reason this keeps happening: records live in a drawer, an email inbox, and three different clinics. Keep one copy that's yours — on paper with our free printable record card, or on your phone.
PetTally scans your vet paperwork, stores every vaccine with dates, reminds you before boosters, and shows a QR Pet Passport at the groomer or kennel desk. Free on iPhone.
Get PetTally FreeContact the clinic that gave the vaccines — they keep the original record and can email a copy or reissue the rabies certificate. Also search your email for past visit summaries, and ask your city or county animal services, which often has the rabies record linked to your pet's license.
Most clinics and chains provide records free online: Vetco emails a PDF and offers downloads, Banfield shows records in the MyBanfield app, VCA in the myVCA app, and Tractor Supply PetVet clinics in VIP Petcare's My Pet Portal. Independent vets will usually email them on request.
Often, yes. The tag number traces back to the clinic or county that issued it. Call the agency or clinic printed on the tag, or check whether your county offers an online tag lookup.
Only if no record can be found anywhere. Talk to your vet — they may recommend repeating core vaccines. A titer test can show immunity for some diseases, but it does not replace a legally required rabies vaccination.
Retention rules vary by state and clinic, but clinics typically keep records for years. Vetco, for example, says it keeps records for at least 3 years.
Related: Rabies tag lookup · Free printable vaccine record · Puppy shot schedule chart
Sources: Vetco FAQ · VCA: sharing medical records · AAHA 2022 canine vaccination guidelines
General information, not veterinary or legal advice. Record rules vary by state and clinic.