Recently
I took on yet another lost dog; I called him “Merle”. He was a great dog; very
well behaved and smart. Just showed up on my porch, then he walked right in the
house. I am pretty sure my pack puts out an all points bulletin to lost pets to
come to our home for safety. So there he was licking and loving on me. Of
course he would not eat or drink much because he was scared and confused, but
he seemed relieved to have found a safe place to hang out. He was just one of
many animals that we have found over the last few months. The only ones we have
returned to their families had microchips.
Most
people do not realize animals bond to humans like we bond to them. Actually even
more so because we are all they know, and they rely on us for food, shelter,
and safety. When they become lost, it can be very traumatic and frightening for
them. They may not eat, drink, or go to the bathroom and can even be lethargic
and confused.
Spring
is here and your fuzzy friends are going to be outside and on the go more and more
over the next few months. ID tags and licenses are a great way to make sure
they don't get lost, but what if they lose their collar or tags? Microchips
offer an excellent way to keep track of your pets and help them get home should
they wander too far away.
There
are a lot of theories and fallacies out there about microchipping. I am very
concerned about the missing pet population and the number of pets that are
currently in shelters that actually have homes out there. I am going to take
some of the mystery out of microchips for you. I have done my own research to learn
about the risks and problems associated with microchipping. I have also talked
to a few doctors myself, just for you.
The
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA states
that, “There are about 5,000 community animal shelters nationwide that are
independent; there is no national organization monitoring these shelters. The
terms “humane society” and “SPCA” are generic; shelters using those names are
not part of the ASPCA or the Humane Society of the United States. Currently, no
government institution or animal organization is responsible for tabulating
national statistics for the animal protection movement.
- Approximately 5 million to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and approximately 3 million to 4 million are euthanized (60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats). Shelter intakes are about evenly divided between those animals relinquished by owners and those picked up by animal control. These are national estimates; the percentage of euthanasia may vary from state to state.
- According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2 percent of cats and only 15 to 20 percent of dogs are returned to their owners. Most of these were identified with tags, tattoos or microchips.” (ASPCA, 2013)
Over
10,000 pets a month are reunited with their owners because they are
microchipped. Pets wander far, collars become tangled or broken and fall off,
tags break, but implanted chips are forever. When we find a lost animal, we
first check them for a collar and tags, and then a microchip. It is very
frustrating for us when we find a scared lost pet and they do not have a microchip.
If a microchip is found, we call the microchip company and our local humane
society to try to get information on the pet’s owner so that we can return them
to their home.
Datamars
and ResQ microchip are offered without an online registration fee or annual fee.
Our clinic currently offers Datamars microchips. The purchase of the microchip
includes implantation and membership to the database. Some companies charge a
one time, a monthly, or a yearly fee. With Datamars and ResQ, it is all
inclusive. The website is very easy to navigate, and you can add as much or as
little information as you want to help a finder locate you for a reunion. These
microchips are approved by ISO and work with universal scanners.
“ISO (International Organization for
Standardization) is the world’s largest developer of voluntary International
Standards. International Standards give state of the art specifications for
products, services and good practice, helping to make industry more efficient
and effective. Developed through global consensus, they help to break down
barriers to international trade.” (ISO, 2013)
ISO
or International Organization for Standards have coordinated the majority of
the microchips companies are selling. These microchips all run off the same
frequency. Contrary to popular belief, there are scanners out there that can
locate and read all of these microchips. More and more of the microchips are
joining this organization and be scanned with the same scanner.
“A
microchip frequency refers to the type of signal emitted by a scanner in order
to activate and read the microchip. There are three microchip frequencies in
the United States: 125 kHz, 128 kHz, and 134.2 kHz. 134.2 kHz is the ISO
(International Standards Organization) standard and is the primary frequency
used worldwide. The AVMA
(American Veterinary Medical Association) also recommends the 134.2 kHz
frequency. “ (Found Animals, 2013) You can ask ahead of
time if the microchip you are purchasing can be read with a universal scanner.
A universal scanner is capable of picking up all three frequencies. The scanner
does not harm the pet and can read the number in seconds without even touching
the skin.
Older
microchips operated off different frequencies; thus lending the idea that
universal scanners could not read them. These microchips were implanted so long
ago that other than exotics and horses, it is unlikely they are still in use.
These animals should be re-microchipped with a newer version to be sure the
scanners of today will locate them.
“The
predecessor to the HomeAgain (Destron) microchip used from 1987 to the early
1990s, operated with the reader-provided operating frequency of 400 kHz. That
microchip, although no longer being implanted, still exists in some pets, and
is successfully read by today’s MultiReaders operating at frequencies between
125 and 134.2 kHz.” (Culberth, 2009)
These
microchips would no longer be present in live dogs and cats and are no longer
available for implantation. Ask your veterinarian if the microchips they
implant operate on a frequency that can be read by a universal scanner. Do your
research. Go to a veterinarian that uses only microchips that are ISO approved.
I
have been hearing from a few clients and read on the web that people do not
want to microchip for fear of the government being able to track their location
or what they are doing. GOOD NEWS!! They cannot use it for that! A microchip
cannot be used as a locator, an information collector, or a tracker. Microchips
assign a unique number to your pet that can be scanned and searched on a
database to find where they belong, with you. They do not transmit.
The
microchip implanted is called an RFID. Datamars defines RFID like this. “There
are various definitions for the term "Radio Frequency
Identification". The definition below is simple and accurate:
"RFID is an
automatic way to collect product, place, time, or transaction data quickly and
easily without human intervention or error."AIM Inc., Association for Automatic Identification and Data Capture Technologies, Pittsburgh, Pa, www.aimglobal.org.
An
RFID system is comprised of a reader, its antenna and transponders (tags, RFID
cards) which carry the data. The reader transmits a low-power radio signal
through its antenna, which is received by the tag via its own antenna and used
to power an integrated circuit (microchip). Using the energy it gets from the
signal when it enters the radio field, the tag will briefly converse with the
reader for verification and exchange data.” (DATAMARS, 2010)
The
pre-numbered microchip is placed just under the skin on the back of the neck
and is about the same size as a grain of rice. The procedure is non-surgical
and relatively pain-free, similar to getting vaccinations. You can then go home
and register the microchip to your name, address, and phone. Websites like www.petlink.net and www.foundanimals.org allow you to customize
your pet’s profile as much or as little as you please free of charge. When your
pet wanders from home and is picked up by the dreaded Dog Catcher or a Good
Samaritan, the microchip can be scanned and you will receive a phone call or an
email letting you know your precious pet has been recovered.
When
we scan a pet, all we see is an individualized number. This number has optimistically
been registered by the owner to a name, phone number, address, email, picture
of the pet, description, and other information the owner chose to give.
Hopefully, the owner kept their information up-to-date. Sometimes owners with
the best intentions get the microchip and either don’t register it, or forget
to update information when they move or change their phone number. www.petlink.net will even send a reminder email
each year on your pet’s birthday to update your information if needed.
There
are websites out there talking about microchipping causing cancer and other
medical problems. We must remember; information on the internet is created by
humans, with opinions and ideas. Not everything available is based on fact. You
should always research about any medical procedure before doing it, but the
best place to start research is with your veterinarian. Relying on the internet
and any old yahoo who purchased a $7-$20 web address and posted their opinions
and beliefs should not be your only means of study. Doctors will NEVER tell you
there is no risk associated with a procedure, so start with those you know and
trust and those with an education about these things. Conspiracy theories will
always exist; just get the real facts before deciding.
Veterinarians I have
spoken with have nothing but positive things to say about microchipping. I
asked Janine Lesh, DVM about the risks of cancer with microchipping a pet. “Any
time you inject ANYTHING under the skin there is a chance it can cause a
reaction. Even saline can cause an adverse reaction in an animal when injected
under the skin. There is no scientific evidence proving microchips themselves will
cause problems related to cancer.” She went on to say anything injected or
placed under the skin can cause a reaction and if there was a problem it would
more likely be an abscess in the area than a tumor. Dr. Lesh also pointed out
that microchips have been available for implant for over 25 years and she has
not seen an instance of cancer at the microchipping site. (Lesh, 2013)
In
another interview, I asked Gerald Nance, DVM his thoughts on cancer or problems
with RFID microchips. His response was basically the same. “Anything injected
under the skin can potentially cause a problem in the long run, although those
instances would be very rare.” (Nance,
2013)
The reality is there are a great deal of different instigators of cancer, but
if you get regular exams for your pet, your veterinarian is more likely to
catch a problem soon enough to do something about it.
We
have not yet addressed the cost issue. Although people seem to retain the
belief that the expense is great; it is actually quite affordable. The Datamars
chips are a great deal at around $60 for the microchip, implantation, and a
lifetime membership to the www.petlink.net
database and website. You may even be able to find specials and deals at
certain times of the year, like spring when pets are more likely to travel away
from home. Considering the cost of trying to locate a lost pet, or paying a
shelter’s fees; it is actually exceptionally reasonable.
The
web site at Pettravel.com says, “Why Do All Dogs & Cats Need a Microchip?
- Peace of Mind - 80% of all dogs and cats without microchips who are separated from their owners are never reunited with them.
- Pet owners are found quickly - Animal Control scans your pet, obtains your contact information, and gives you a call.
- Proof positive of ownership - if your dog or cat is lost or stolen, a quick scan can lead authorities to your contact information.
- Protection for travel - the security of knowing when you travel your pet can be identified at all times.
- Microchips are required prior to entry into many countries
- 15 digit (ISO) microchips
are the world standard.
- Required for pet immigration forms - immigration forms require that the pet microchip number be on each form” (pettravel.com, 2013)
When
a new pet comes in, the first thing we do is scan them for a microchip. If they
have one, we contact the original parents to make sure they are relinquishing
the pet to the new owner. If they did not wish for their pet to go to a new
home, we take possession of the pet until which time it can be retrieved by the
rightful family. If they no longer wish to have the pet be in their home, we
advise the new and the old owners to get together and get the microchip re-registered
to the correct family.
If
a pet does not have a microchip, we have no choice but to assume the person in
possession of the animal is their rightful owner. At that point we can perform
procedures requested by the new owner including surgical procedures,
vaccinations, alteration, and even euthanasia. Imagine your neighbor who is not
a huge fan of your pet, decides to grab him up and take him to the pound, or to
be euthanized without your knowledge. How grateful would you be when they were
returned to you because they had a microchip?
If my impressions of microchipping are not enough to sway
your opinions, check out this great article by Cesar Millan, Should You Microchip Your Dog? where he pleads, “Please have your dog microchipped. You’ll never regret doing
it, but if your dog gets lost, you’ll always regret that you didn’t.” (Millan, 2013)
So
there it is; why I feel you should get your friend microchipped, and my
research about the risks and rumors associated with it. I never did find
Merle’s home and he was re-homed. What can we do to prevent this? The most
reliable way I can think of is microchipping. No, it is not going to beam them
home, or allow you to track them with GPS, but it is the best weapon that we
have at this time to get them back into the loving arms of their family. All of
my pets are microchipped and it helps to know that I have taken that extra step
to insure their safety.
Works Cited
ASPCA. (2013). Pet Statistics. Retrieved April
8, 2013, from ASPCA We Are Their Voice:
http://www.aspca.org/about-us/faq/pet-statistics.aspx
Culberth, W. (2009). Microchip
frequency: does it matter? Retrieved 2013, from Trovan Electronic
Identification Devices LTD.:
http://www.trovan.com/news/files/Microchip_frequency.html
DATAMARS. (2010). Datamars
What is RFID. Retrieved 2013, from datamars.com:
http://www.datamars.com/default.aspx?menuitemid=258
Found Animals. (2013).
How Does Microchipping Work? Retrieved April 2013, from Found Animals
Microchip Registry :
http://microchipregistry.foundanimals.org/help_and_faq.php
ISO. (2013). About
ISO. Retrieved from ISO: http://www.iso.org/iso/home/about.htm
Lesh, J. (2013). DVM.
(R. Fox, Interviewer)
Millan, C. (2013,
January). Should you Microchip Your Dog? Retrieved April 2013, from
Cesar's Way:
http://www.cesarsway.com/news-and-events/cesars-blog/Should-You-Microchip-Your-Dog
Nance, G. (2013). DVM.
(R. Fox, Interviewer)
pettravel.com. (2013).
Why do all dogs and cats need a microchip? Retrieved 2013, from
www.pettravel.com: http://www.pettravel.com/passports_pet_microchip.cfm
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