But there isn’t a microchip. This sweet little guy doesn’t have an ID tag, and he’s not microchipped. You have no idea who is he, where he’s from, or how to contact his family.
You know you can’t keep him so you ask around, but none of your friends is interested in adopting a dog. You think you have no choice, so you take this sweet little guy to the animal shelter.
Maybe his owner will eventually find him there. Or maybe a new adopter will come along and take him home. Or maybe not. Maybe his story won’t have a happy ending.
Now imagine this is YOUR dog. Maybe you were out of town, like LuLu‘s family, and your pet was staying with a friend when he escaped.
Or maybe she went missing during a natural disaster, like Hanah. Whatever the circumstance, your beloved dog {or cat} is missing, and there’s no way for the person who finds him to contact you.
But it doesn’t have to be this way! Remember when I told you the story of how my dog’s life was saved after she was hit by a car and the person was able to call me within minutes because my phone number was on the dog’s ID tag?
That’s one way of increasing the odds that you can be contacted if your pet goes missing.
Microchipping is another way. And unlike an ID tag that could get lost or removed, a microchip is a permanent identification for your pet.
A microchip is the size of a piece of rice and is made of glass. It is implanted with a needle between your dog’s shoulder blades, which is a quick and easy process that ensures your contact information is always with your dog. The procedure is done at the vet’s office and doesn’t require anesthesia.
In the event your dog goes missing, he will be easily identified when the microchip is scanned. Most veterinary offices and shelters have scanners, and this will save your pet from being adopted or euthanized.
Microchips don’t work like your car’s GPS and will not track your dog’s location. They only work when the chip is scanned.
I should point out that not all shelters have scanners, and some have “brand specific” scanners, which means if your dog’s chip is a different brand, a scanner might not find it. There definitely are some glitches, but I still believe that overall, it is overwhelmingly in your dog’s best interest to be microchipped.
Is YOUR dog microchipped?
If not, what are you waiting for?
Mayziegal says
August 20, 2012 at 2:47 pmHi there! Thanks for coming over to my bloggie! I luv to make new furends.
And yes…all of us have microchips. Well, except for mom and dad. Heehee! Plus, we have collars with our names sewn into them AND tags. AND if they ever come out with microchips that have GPS in them, we’ll prolly have those, too. If you couldn’t tell, my mom is just a TEENSY bit paranoid about losing us.
Wiggles & Wags,
Mayzie
Christina Berry says
August 20, 2012 at 2:47 pmI agree with your mom, Mayzie! You can’t be too careful! Thanks for stopping by today! Come back again soon, please! 🙂
Mama Bub says
August 20, 2012 at 2:47 pmWe didn’t microchip our dog, but I would have. My husband wouldn’t even consider it, but I think it’s a great idea.
Christina Berry says
August 20, 2012 at 2:47 pmWhy was your husband against it? I guess at first, before I knew much about it, it seemed like an invasive procedure that my dog didn’t really need because she’s never going to get lost. But now I’m smart enough to know, we can’t predict when something completely beyond our control happens and changes everything. I hope it doesn’t, but if it does, we’re as prepared as we can be.