Micro-chipping

Pet microchips are becoming increasingly popular around the world.

What is a microchip? A pet microchip consists of a tiny tube (about the size of a grain of rice) that is inserted under the skin. For consistency, it is almost always placed on the left side near shoulder height. The process is very quick, cheap, and painless. The chip is implanted with an injection and requires no anesthesia. It carries a number in it that will identify the owner by name and address. The database also contains other relevant information, such as the animal’s health problems. All veterinarian offices and animal shelters are supposed to have a reading device for the microchip so animals can be easily identified.

Why should I ‘chip’ my pet? All it takes to lose a pet is momentary distraction, an overexcited child, or an unaware in-home worker and your pet is gone in an instant. Sadly, once a pet is lost the odds are against finding its way home again. According to the American Humane Association, only about 17% of lost dogs and 2% of lost cats ever find their way back from shelters to their original owners.

Because of microchipping, animals have been reunited with their owners even after years of being lost, and at great distances.