Mircochips

About the size of a grain of rice, a microchip is a tiny computer chip that provides permanent, positive and unalterable identification for pets. The microchip, which is encoded with a unique I.D. number, is injected under the skin usually between the shoulder blades of dogs and cats. Because of its small size, the chip can simply be inserted with a hypodermic needle and does not require the pet to be placed under anesthesia. Many animals are microchipped while they are being spayed or neutered although puppies and kittens as young as 8 weeks can be safely chipped. At the time of implant, you will be asked to fill out vital owner information, including who to call should your pet become lost while you are on vacation or unable to be reached. Once in place, a hand held scanning device is passed over the area where the microchip has been implanted. The scanner will then indicate the chip has been found by beeping. The I.D. number will then appear in the screen area of the scanner. The I.D. number has been referenced to the information you have provided and is retrieved from a central database. If your pet should become lost and is brought to a shelter, veterinary office or animal care facility, staff can scan the animal and if a microchip is found they can then access that owner information via computer or telephone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

North York animal officials report receiving calls from residents regarding dogs running at large with no collar or tags. Some owners feel that because their dog is microchipped, they need not worry about visibly identifying their pet. Not so. Proper, visible identification helps significantly in reuniting dogs with their people. Many of the companies that produce microchips are also providing tags now to accompany the chip which not only indicates the animal is microchipped, but also has an 800 number that can be accessed anytime from anywhere. Microchips are not a visible means of identification, collars with tags are. Collars can be removed, microchips can not. Tags can become unfastened and fall off or worn down rendering them illegible. It is important for pet owners to understand that no one means of identification can be totally effective. By microchipping and tagging our pets we are providing every possible opportunity for them to be identified and reunited.

While watching my son play baseball this past summer a bouncy black Labrador came running happily to the park with great expectations of joining the game. He was difficult at best to catch, but eventually we were able to loop him with a leash I had in my car. He was wearing a red nylon collar with a single silver tag about the size of a quarter attached to it. I borrowed a cell phone and called the 800 number on the tag. I was connected almost instantly and was informed as to where he lived. It turned out he was in fact microchipped and the number I had called was the main lost and found hotline for a major microchip company. While owner vidulence is paramount in keeping pet safe from becoming lost, accidents do happen, despite our best efforts. In the case of the bouncy, black labrador, the neighbour had knocked on the door and the dog had jumped up and unlatched the screen. When I brought him back home, everyone was so relieved to see that he had been returned safe and sound.

In the case of cats, few wear collars. Many of them are allowed outside. The provincial claim rate for cats is approximately 4%. A very sad reality. In fact, the Toronto Humane Society admitted 7,483 cats into their shelter in 1999 and of that total only 491 cats were ever claimed by the original owner. Microchipped cats would have a far greater chance of finding their way home should they become lost and admitted into a shelter.

The procedure can be done in a matter of minutes at your veterinarian's office with costs that range anywhere from about $45.00 to $65.00. Many shelters now include microchipping with the adoption of a pet. As with tags, current, up-to-date information is a must. A microchip is only as good as it's database information. If you move, it is imperative you call the microchip company and give them your change of address and new phone number. Licensing for spayed/neutered and microchipped pets is now NO CHARGE to encourage owners to be responsible by sterilizing and identifying their pets.

I highly endorse the microchipping concept, it is important owners do not become complacent about visible means of identification or lulled into a false sense of security about having the microchip in place. I recommend both means of identification, tagging and chipping, our pets give us so much, it's the least we can do!

Lorraine Houston is a North York resident who has worked in the animal welfare field for over 20 years. E-mail her at: lhh4dogs@rogers.com