What are microchips and why are they important?
Microchips are small implantable units about the size of a grain of rice. They are able to be scanned by a handheld device over the implant area to reveal a unique registration number. Once a chip is registered to an owner, the number will be linked to an account including the owners contact information. The pet’s information, such as name, age and colour, will also be assigned to the microchip account. Most SPCAs and Veterinary clinics use microchips daily. They will have scanners available to scan stray animals and find out if they have an owner. Microchips are tamper-proof, and they can last up to 25+ years! They are inserted right under the skin, and are a quick and simple process.
The American Humane Association estimates that 1/3 family pets will get lost. With microchips dogs are 2x more likely to be returned and cats are more than 20x more likely to be returned! Based on a poll with 7,960 pet parents in the USA, only 2% of non-microchipped cats are returned home to their owner and only 22% of lost dogs were returned home. If the pet was microchipped they were much more likely to be retuned home.
Microchips are great for permanent identification, however, nothing replaces a collar with an identification tag. If a pet is wearing an ID tag when they’re lost, they can be quickly reunited with their family. Microchips work well if used with ID Tags. ID tags can help reunite your pet quickly, while microchips are permanent and work even if your pet is lost without their collar.
BTSPCA
Image showing how a microchip scanner is used.
BTSPCA
The size of a microchip compared to a loonie.
The Baccalieu Trail SPCA currently uses 24Petwatch microchips. These microchips have a website to register your chip number to the animal you adopted along with your contact information if they get lost!
If you have recently adopted an animal from us and are having trouble registering the microchip number, please click the button below to access 24 Petwatch registration page.
References:
Outward Hound Branded research Pet Micro chipping Poll.
24Petwatch
Wikipedia
Home Again: A Lost Pet’s Best Chance