Is Your Pet “chipped”?
What happens if your family pet suddenly turns up lost? You may have a tag on them and the finder may decide to do the decent thing and contact you. But what if that tag has been lost (they frequently are)? There’s a good chance there is no tag. Regardless, a microchip provides permanent identification that cannot fall off, be removed or become difficult or impossible to read. A microchip may just serve as the conduit to reunite you and your pet. Dog or cat. A microchip is not a GPS. It’s not a tracking device. They are instead a radio-frequency identification implant that does not require a power source. There is no battery in it. The microchip gets power from the external scanner and then transmits the number to the scanner. Veterinarians and rescue centers all have scanners that can read the chips. The microchip is inserted under the loose skin between the shoulder blades with a sterile applicator. It only takes a few seconds as though it was a simple vaccination. The chip has been compared to a grape seed. Once microchipped the number needs to be registered with a pet recovery service. If your pet is recovered by any of the multitude of rescues, etc. out there they will scan for a chip and report the number to the recovery services which will then contact you.
Bonus benefits of microchipping your pet
Some microchip registries offer additional services for your pet’s care:
- Specialists available 24/7 to assist with advice and support if your pet is lost
- Travel assistance for pets found far from home
- 24/7 Emergency Medical Hotline
- Lost Pet Alerts sent to a network of animal shelters, veterinarians, and concerned citizens around where your pet was lost.
Remember as long as there are pets, even those belonging to the most responsible parents, they will go missing. That is why we are happy to sponsor a microchip clinic at the store on June 6 from 1-5 pm. The cost is just $25 for the chipping and all proceeds will go to the Animal Protection and Education Charity.
