Not to start off on too dour a note, but the sad reality is that every year in America, estimates put the number of cats and dogs who are euthanized in shelters between 4.5 and 6 million, mainly because they can’t find homes. In some cases (more than you would like to think), animals who DO have homes but have somehow gone missing get euthanized because their families aren’t able to find them.

Microchips can help prevent this from happening to your pet, should he/she become lost locally or during a long trip. Think about this statistic: only 16 percent of lost dogs and only 2 percent of lost cats are ever reunited with their families. This technology, which is safe and effective, is very much under-utilized in this country, which seems silly in light of the odds against your pet finding their way back to you should they get lost. At a cost of $30 at this special event, it’s also a bargain. (On average, veterinarians charge $65 to implant a microchip. Owners must also pay a one-time registration fee, varying between $15-$20. By having this done at Kamp K9 via the Animal Refuge League, you’re only paying $30 for the cost of the implant procedure; the registration fee is being waived.) Your pet will be receiving the HomeAgain chip.

Kamp K9 will be hosting a low-cost microchip day here on December 13th from 10am-3pm; the proceeds will benefit the Animal Refuge League and their continued efforts on the behalf of animals. Details and information follow in the Info Feature on the next page. If you were thinking about having it done for your pets, or know someone who’s been thinking about it for THEIR pet, this will be a great opportunity to get it done at a significant savings, as there will be no registration fee with HomeAgain. You’ll need to pre-register for this; call or email us to sign up!

The implantation procedure is painless and doesn’t require anesthesia. A veterinarian uses a hypodermic needle to inject a tiny transponder the size of a grain of rice, just under your pet's skin between the shoulder blades. The microchip contains a unique identification number which will be entered, in this case, into the HomeAgain database with your contact information. If your lost pet is found, a humane society chapter, veterinarian's office, or animal shelter can scan the microchip to read the number contained in the chip. You can also call HomeAgain to notify them that your pet has been lost, which is useful especially if your pet was stolen.) The identification number is then checked against the national database and as soon as your number is matched, you’re contacted that your pet has been found. The chip is made out of an inert, biocompatible substance, which will not degenerate nor cause an allergic reaction. There are no moving parts to break, nor is there a battery which could go bad. Because of the way the chip is designed, once in place, it will not move to any sensitive organs or tissues.

Although technology can help find a lost or stolen pet, it’s not fool-proof. For instance, if a person finds your loveable lost puppy on their doorstep, they’re not likely to have a microchip scanner. Remember to place ID tags on your pet's collar, in addition to the microchip, for the best possibility of making sure that your pet is returned home safely. Also, there are a few different types of chips, and not every vet and shelter carries all the scanners needed to identify chips from every maker. The chips from the two dominant U.S. companies (HomeAgain and AVID) operate at the same frequency. This allows the scanner of each to detect the presence of the other's microchip, even if it can’t actually decode the chip's encoded or (in AVID’s case) encrypted ID. Some scanners distributed by HomeAgain for shelter use have for some time been able to both detect and decrypt the AVID ID chip, so the bottom line is this: through this special microchipping event your pet will be receiving a chip that is most likely to be detected and understood by the majority of scanners in the U.S.
Sources:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/11/1115_051115_pet_chips.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microchip_implant_(animal)

http://www.dog-food-zone.com/pet-articles/microchip.htm

Random thought: We are never more foolish than when we’re trying to be clever. Just ask anyone who’s ever tried to do their own home improvements.

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