check the chip

Microchipping....we've talked about it before. It is SO important. So the AVMA has set up today as:

CHECK THE CHIP DAY

All of us are microchipped....but it is still important to take a second to get scanned and make sure it comes up. And of COURSE - make sure the chip is registered with the company and you keep your information updated!!!

In just the past 3 weeks, mom has run out for the rescue and picked up cats that have been found by good samaritans....the rescue gets called because the chip ultimately comes back as "owned" by the rescue and the person who adopted didn't register the microchip. The rescue will then go back through our records and attempt to contact the adopter. Here is what happened then:

  Cat #1 - mom got in touch with the adopter, she said she wanted him back but then stopped responding to mom about making arrangements to have him returned. he has since been adopted by a new family.

  Cat #2 - messages were left for the adopters. no response was ever received. she is now looking for a new home.

  Cat #3 - we contacted his owner. he had slipped out and his mom was SO HAPPY to have been contacted and drove right over to get him back. she was told again to be sure to register the chip

And that is just the recent ones. Sadly, sometimes even with registered chips you can't reach people - but how is anyone who rescues supposed to contact you if there is NO chip or the chip isn't registered!!!

It is pretty easy, relatively painless, and most clinics don't charge a lot. Around here, our local Petco stores have vet events once per month and those clinics will microchip as well.

FYI - mom went out to Found.Org and registered all our chips....for free!!  It was easy too.

BlogPaws has a great article as well as our friends from Cats Herd You

Check Your Chip Day

Our friend Daisy reminded us the other day that today is Check Your Chip Day. Now, like her we got all excited thinking it was about potato chips, but alas it is about microchips.

Yes mom, we know those are important....but mmmm potato chips.

Everyone here is microchipped. And we don't know of a rescue out there that doesn't microchip any more. And in a study done at our local university, the vet found that the return rate of lost animals was much higher when a chip was found and was REGISTERED!!! That is the big thing - you have to make sure your chip is registered and your information stays up to date.

Our vet scans us for our chips everything we have an appointment. Doing this the first time mom discovered that Ivy's chip actually moved. When implanted (yes, among the other weird things mom can do, she knows how to implant a microchip), it is done between the shoulder blades. However, in Ivy's case, she was chipped when she was spayed at 8 weeks old. And ummm.... she is a little....bigger now. MOL  So turns out her chip is now resting over one shoulder blade. When scanning, the vet or shelter should go side to side and front to back....just in case.

Now, the ASPCA also has an app that will store all your pet information, including microchip info. Mom downloaded it. HOWEVER you can't accurately put in the microchip information since that part of the app only allows for numbers and a lot of chips include letters (most of ours do). We have tweeted the ASPCA and sent an email to the address on the app, but haven't ever heard anything (if you know someone over there, let them know there is a bug). That being said, we think it is a great idea to have all your info in one place.  If you have suggestions for other apps for phones, leave us a comment.

The lesson here:
Microchip your pets
Make sure your vet scans for the chip everytime
Make sure your info stays up to date

And if you find a lost animal, get him scanned for a microchip - it is the fastest way to get him reunited with his family!!!