Author: Rob Metras
Why should animals die needlessly when we have the technology and
ability to protect them and assist in their return when they are lost ?
A microchip is a small radio transponder which is implanted under the
skin near the shoulder blades of the pet via a sterile needle. The chip
, about the size of a rice gain, activates a receiver in the scanner
which transmits its microchip number to an electronic scanner for
veterinary or animal welfare/control personnel to read. They then can
determine the type of chip and contact the approriate pet recovery
database to discover the owners information.
The National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy completed a
survey of 1000 animal shelters across the United States in 1997 where
it found that about one million dogs and 584,000 cats were found as
strays and taken to shelters. Of these only 16% of the dogs and 2% of
the cats could be returned to their owners. Some of these could be
adopted but the majority of these pets were humanely euthanized because
their owners could not be found. This carnage could have been avoided.
When natural disasters such as Hurricane Rita or Katrina happen we see
the importance of microchipping as the reunification of lost pets is
enhanced. Accidents and natural disasters happen ,as do open doors and
unlocked fences which allow the pet to escape without being noticed.
Leashes and collars as well as collar tags can fall off or be lost and
animals go missing. While some purebred pets are tattooed upon birth by
breeders and kennels this is still mainly done for show dogs. The
responsible answer is microchipping.
The cost of microchipping varies by veterinary charges and registration
fees varies but is usually around $45.00 and registration with the
recovery services is free or a small annual fee to keep the
registration current when people move. Some of these services keep the
data current by regularily contacting and confirming the contact
information with the owner. Others rely on the owner to keep the record
updated. Some municipal governments use the tag information to license
pets in their area and provide support for animal control activities.
Others use metal tags and tokens that can fall off and be lost.
The odds of recovery of a lost pet is enhanced by the microchip
compared to other methods. We will still see posters on telephone poles
ad bulletin boards when a pet is lost. The owner can avoid further
anguish by ensuring the pet has been chipped and registered. The sight
of a crying child whose favorite dog or cat has gone missing should
remind us as adults of our responsibility as a pet parent
The information contained in the registration allows the rapid contact
and return of the animal upon arriving at animal welfare organization.
Shelters across North America have scanners that can read and identify
a wide variety of chips being used. In the United States there is a
movement to international microchip standards (ISO) which are used in
most developed countries including Canada. The current non-ISO chips in
the US can be read today and in Canada the scanners read both ISO and
non-ISO chips in scanners provided specifically for that market.
Microchips have a distinct and discrete code or number which they
transmit when excited by a scanner. Depending on the code the registry
can easily be contacted by toll free telephone. The registries are not
all exclusive to the chip manufacturers and some include all chips that
are in the market. The registries have names like Home Again,
24Petwatch and Avid ID. the 24Petwatch registry allows the registration
of all microchips regardless of maker. Its database can be searched in
real-time by the largest online shelter and rescue software in North
America. This assists in recoveries and online searching across
geographic boundaries. Having your pet chipped and registered does save
lives of countless lost pets.
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