Chipping Your Pet

We all know the truth many pound puppies and cats have to face. But what’s especially saddening is that almost four million pets are euthanized every year because their pet owner can’t be found in time. It’s a risk many of you choose not to take – so you go one step closer than the collar and microchip your pet.

Pet owner Paula Loftis of Beaufort, SC shares, "the microchip company did call me and say, “do you have a dog named Amy?’ I said she's right out here in the yard — well she wasn't right out in the yard."

It happens to the most responsible pet owners and that’s why Paula Loftis says micro chipping her dogs was a no brainer. "They could lose their collar. Then they've lost their rabies tags, their other identification tags and so the microchip provides me with that additional assurance that if they are picked up and taken to a shelter, they will be scanned."

Hilton Head Humane Association’s Frannie Gerthoffer says it works every time, “We plug this number into the computer and the number will then relate the name, address and telephone number of the owner."

Frannie’s for this practice 100% and now requires micro chipping as part of every adoption at Hilton Head Humane. The procedure is practically painless for animals.

"It’s just a simple injection.” A glass piece about the size of a grain of rice is inserted between the shoulders near the collar.

According to Dr. Kirk Dixon of Hilton Head Veterinary Clinics, “If your animal is either stolen or lost and someone doesn't return it, that is a permanent identification that will help you prove that it is your animal."

It seems that this works like or better than a charm, but some claim there are glitches.

 "In my professional opinion and my experience, I can confidently say it has 100% worked for me and for my patients without any errors."

Paula admittedly goes to every extreme to protect her pets. But after researching the microchip system, she did form some reservations. "I was getting concerned with will they be in business next year and can we count on this system being valid."

Although HomeAgain is recognized as the standard company among those we interviewed, there are others out there – which could complicate the mission of bringing your animal back home.

But if it gives Amy’s finder one more outlet of reaching the one who is heartbroken without her, then the $40 investment was worth every penny.

If you decide to microchip your pet, it’s so important to follow through with the registration of your name, address and phone number and keep it updated. If not, a scanner will just recognize where it was inserted and not you!

• HomeAgain was recognized as the standard company among those we interviewed for our story.  To read more about them, log onto their website at: http://homeagain.com
  
   
  
  


• Another popular microchip company: http://www.avidplc.com/
  
   
  
  


• Let us know your experience with microchipping your pet.  Are you happy?  Has it already proven to be worth the investment?  E-mail your thoughts to Holly Bounds at hbounds@wsav.com