Dog ID Tag symbol of...?

The dog ID tag is a symbol of salvation. This symbol is found in the short story “A Very Tight Place.” Curtis was overwhelmed with grief when his neighbor killed the dog he had for seventeen years. He put her ID tag on the keyring with the keys to his scooter. When Curtis is trapped in the Port-O-Sans by the same neighbor who killed his dog he is able to use the ID tag to unscrew the bolts and escape. It is as if the dog was looking out for Curtis and provided him salvation.