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Microchips can help in return of lost pets
In March, we left our beloved 12-year-old Australian shepherd, Dinah, with my son in Pittsburgh while we went to Florida for a two-week vacation. We've had Dinah since she was a puppy, and she was the "daughter" we never had.
During the first week, she slipped out of the house and ran away. We think she was traveling to our home 28 miles away. While concerned, we knew she had her collar with her ID, rabies tag, and dog license. We put ads in the paper, notified all the shelters and placed pictures on telephone poles in the area where she went missing.
One month went by, then two. One day a man called. He had been fishing near a dam on the Allegheny River and found our dog's collar caught on the bottom of a chain link fence. Our Dinah now had no identification! As of today, we've had no trace of her.
The shelters and various veterinarians tell us that when a stray is received, the first thing they do is test for a microchip. If we had had the foresight to microchip Dinah, she might still be with us now.
While we enjoy our new dog, Shadow, the loss of Dinah is a deep wound that will take a long time to heal. Please let your readers know that collars and ID tags are not foolproof. If a dog is missing and loses weight, the collar can slip off, as it did in our Dinah's case. A microchip is a much safer addition.
Our pets cannot tell people their names and addresses. We must protect them the best way we can.
Dear Chip Advocate: I'm so sorry about Dinah. Losing a pet like that has to be a horrible experience. You are right that we "missed the boat" by not talking about using microchips as a way to identify lost dogs. Honestly, it never occurred to me until I received your letter. When you pointed out this omission I was surprised that we hadn't thought about this subject, because my springer spaniel, Crea, and my new Labrador, Sophie, both have "AVID Friend Chip" microchips.
For readers who are not aware of this pet-saving technology, a microchip is a tiny computer chip that has an identification number programmed into it. The microchip is encapsulated within biocompatible material. Because the AVID Friend Chip is inert and biocompatible, there is virtually no chance of the animal's body developing an allergy or rejecting the microchip.
The microchip is administered with a hypodermic needle between the dog's shoulder blades, just under the skin. Literature provided by AVID states that the procedure is not painful and that most pets do not react to it. However, both Crea and Sophie had been anesthetized for other procedures when their microchips were administered. Crea's was done during a tooth cleaning, and Sophie got "chipped" when she was spayed.
Every microchip has a unique identification number. No two animals ever have the same number. To date, more than 17,000 microchip scanners have been distributed to veterinarians and shelters throughout the United States.
Every dog that comes into AVID-affiliated shelters is automatically scanned. The same is true at the veterinary hospital that I use. According to Jessie Keane, a technician at the Martin Downs Animal Hospital in Palm City, Fla., "Every new pet that comes into the hospital is routinely scanned. Any microchipped animal that has been either lost or stolen can be reunited with his or her rightful owner."
The AVID microchip is designed to last for decades. It cannot be lost, altered or intentionally remove. Cats, birds, horses and exotic pets can also be microchipped. The Web site for AVID is www.avidid.com. Their phone number is 800-336-2843 (AVID). Be sure to ask your veterinarian about microchipping your pets.
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