Why you should microchip your pet

You’ve probably seen or read a story in the news about families who lost their dog. They did everything to find him—putting up posters, checking shelters—nothing. Then, after months or years, they get a phone call. Their dog was found. The person who found the dog took him to be scanned for a microchip and it showed who his family was and they were reunited.

 

Statistics indicate that missing pets rarely make it home:

·  The American Humane Association estimates over 10 million dogs and cats are lost or stolen in the U.S. every year.

·  One in three pets will become lost at some point during their life.

·  A study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, including 53 animal shelters across the U.S., confirmed the high rate of return of microchipped dogs and cats to their families, and the importance of microchip registration. From the study:

·  Only about 22 percent of lost dogs that entered the animal shelters were reunited with their families. However, the return-to-owner rate for microchipped dogs was over 52 percent (a 238 percent increase).

·  Only 58 percent of the microchipped animals’ microchips had been registered in a database with their pet parent’s contact information.

The chip’s only as big as a grain of rice. It’s usually implanted in the scruff of your dog’s neck and doesn’t cause any pain for your pet. And it only costs around $25 to $50, depending on your vet. A microchip and enrollment in a pet recovery database brings lost pets home and provides peace of mind that your beloved companion will never wander unknown.

Microchipping substantially increases the likelihood of a pet returning home by offering secure, reliable, unique and permanent identification.

If the above are not good enough reasons to have your dog microchipped, then I have another very good reason that we don’t like to talk about. We all love our Rotties and want to do everything we can for them but not everyone shares our passion. In many towns, cities or counties, Rottweilers are banned. Where you live may not have a ban on breeds but what about the next town or county over? If you furry family member ends up there and is not microchipped then it is a very real possibility that he will be euthanized in the shelter. Unfortunately, this is the sad and harsh reality for a breed that is so misunderstood.

Simply getting your furry family member microchipped will not do much of anything if he becomes lost. You must also register the microchip. Complete the paperwork that comes with the chip and send it to the registry, or do it online if that option is available.  Some companies charge a one-time registration fee while others charge an annual fee.  You’ll also receive a tag for your pet’s collar with the chip number and registry phone number.

Remember: If you move or change your phone number, you need to contact the company that registers the chip to update your information; otherwise, the chip will be useless. You may be charged a small fee to process the update.