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Identification Systems
Where!
Oh! Where! Has my little pet gone?
The loss of a family pet can
be devastating and the statistics show that most pets do
escape from their owners at some point in their lives.
Put it all together and you’d rather not think about what
could quite possibly happen, would you! But the chances
of losing your pet permanently can indeed be minimized
if you take a few precautions. We have several options
to help you recover a lost or stolen pet.
The three most effective methods
are:
Although a collar
with an identification tag is still the first line of
defense, many argue that microchip implants
are the best way to ensure the safety of your companion
animal.
What about Tattooing? Tattooing
pets with a number - often the owner’s social security
number - is another method of identifying pets, especially
dogs. However, veterinarians and pet rescue experts say
tattoos can blur over time, making them difficult to read,
and they can be altered. It’s possible, says the AKC, that
duplicate tattoo numbers exist. A microchip provides a
permanent form of identification with a unique number that
cannot be altered.
How does microchipping
work? A microchip is placed
under the pet's skin between the shoulder blades using
a special syringe and needle. The chip is slightly smaller
than a grain of rice and cannot be felt or seen once
it is inserted.
 After
insertion, a hand held scanner will display the microchip
number when it is passed over the animal's back. The American
Kennel Club (AKC) maintains a database of Home Again Microchip
information that matches microchip numbers with owners.
They provide this service for any implanted animal, not
just for dogs and cats and not just for registered purebred
animals. Almost all local municipal animal shelters, humane
societies and animal clinics have scanners and they check
all the stray dogs and cats that they find.
Microchips are permanent and
they will function for the life of your pet. They provide
a legal means of proving ownership.
Most dogs, cats, ferrets and
medium to large size birds can be implanted with a microchip
without any type of anesthesia. They don’t seem to experience
any more discomfort than they would if they were receiving
a regular vaccination. Small or squirmy pets may benefit
from some brief sedation during the one or two minutes
it takes to implant the microchip.
Many clients elect to have
their pet microchipped while he or she is being spayed,
neutered, having their teeth cleaned, or for some other
reason are going to be anesthetized.
The cost is less than $50
for the microchip and about $13 for registration with the
AKC. Note that Assistance animals - dogs that assist
the handicapped - can be enrolled in the recovery program
for free. Still not sure about microchipping? Consider
the following statistics from the Humane Society of the
United States:
- Every year, between 8 and
10 million dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters.
- Some 4 to 5 million of
these animals that enter the shelter system are eventually
euthanized because there are not enough homes for them.
- Less than 5 % of cats
and 14 % of dogs that enter the shelter system will be
reunited with their owners.
Yikes!
It
is a tragic problem. So
what do we recommend?
A
sturdy collar with an ID tag and
Yes!
Very
definitely - Yes!
A
MICROCHIP!
Do
it soon!
There’s
not much worse than losing your best friend
and it CAN BE AVOIDED.
Call us at Chastain Veterinary Medical Group
and
consider it done!
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