Not Losing Your P($#)IT…

​Or any other four-legged loved one…

If you’re anything like me, I have a tendency of losing my keys often and trying to find my phone while I am actually talking on it. I often find myself quietly praying to Apple to step up their game and create my very own “Meet the Jetson’s” handmaid Rosie just to put my laundry away. While keys can be replaced and a new phone purchased, replacing a furry love bug is not.

​As technology is evolving in our everyday use, it is also helping us to be able to safeguard our pets. Microchipping is not a new form of protection, however, as the years pass it is becoming increasingly more common. Most shelters and adoption agencies are requiring this technology for animal protection.

Here are just a few tips on understanding how and why you should have your favorite member of your family protected by micro-chipping them.

Depending on where you live it may be mandatory to have your animal microchipped. This is in lieu of having your pet registered. In Dallas, Texas this stature became in effect as of June 2017. (note: you can verify per your city ordinance online)

So what exactly is microchipping?
Well let me explain, this is a tiny form of permanent identification about the size of a grain of rice. Our tiny “grain of rice” has a biocompatible material, combined with an encrypted technology which ensures that your ID can never be altered or duplicated. This technology has a radio-frequency, so there is no need to be concerned with a battery life cycle. The placement of this microchip is on the surface of your pet’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades.
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After Care Procedures
While negative reactions are extremely rare, there is always a possibility something can go awry. This is where common sense and cleanliness are vital. Infection at the site may be possible. do your best to avoid free-standing water for three days, i.e. bathing or swimming. Migration from the original injection site is possible, however, rare. More than four million animals have been microchipped, less than .01% have reported adverse reactions.

It’s not me it’s YOU!
While there may be some concern’s about ethical implications be assured this device’s sole purpose is for identification. With that being said, user error (yep! that would be YOU) could be the reason that identification is not accurate. They are as follows:

• Not registering your chip properly – The chip is implanted, however, the identification number must be registered with a recovery database that links to your contact info
• Keep your contact info current – Just like updating your driver’s license, this vital to keep your information current or your microchip is rendered useless
  
  

Side Thought
Now that you have made this choice keep in mind even though you have your pet microchipped does not mean that the facility that may have your lost and/or abandoned pet is using a proper scanner to read the microchip that has been implanted. 
In 2007, a government report states that 98% of microchipped had 125-kHz chips, and only 80% of scanners could read a microchip of this frequency. Please make sure you are very aware of what radio-frequency your pet’s microchip is and possibly add this to your pets identification tag and collar as yet another to protect them.

Where can you get chipped?
You can your pet microchipped at your local veterinary clinic. Even mainstream pet suppliers such as; PetSmart offers to microchip at select stores. If you’re in the Dallas Metro area the Texas Coalition for Animal Protection (TCAP) offers an array of services including microchipping, low-cost vaccines and heart-worm testing. Google is a powerful resource, my friends.

With the statistic’s showing that 1 in 3 pets goes missing, and 90% of them do not get returned home; you can save yourself the heartache, stress, and anguish for the cost of what most people in our community spend on a Friday night for dinner and drinks.

Do you have a lost and found story? We would love to hear about your experience.