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Written by John Bear
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Thursday, 08 May 2008 |
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Statistics show that thousands of pets are lost each year. Most of us never expect to lose our pet and when the unexpected happens, most owners are caught by surprise and unprepared and owners are heartbroken at the loss of their pets. Taking a simple preventative action can prevent this problem from happening.
by JohnBear
Statistics show that thousands of pets are lost each year. Most of us never expect to lose our pet and when the unexpected happens, most owners are caught by surprise and unprepared and owners are heartbroken at the loss of their pets. Taking a simple preventative action can prevent this problem from happening.
Lost pets can easily be found with a microchip. Every chip is encased in a smooth, strong biocompatible glass, and is small enough to fit into a hypodermic needle. The microchip is encoded with an identification number and this unique number can identify them throughout their life.
A veterinarian as well as most animal shelters can do the procedure. Animal shelters provide the service for much less than a vet. It can be done in about thirty seconds and does not hurt pets. A microchip ID is a very, very small chip. In fact, it's just about the size of a grain of rice.
There are three companies that dominate the US market for pet microchips- AVID, HomeAgain and 24PetWatch The microchip manufacturer keep the chip numbers that you have purchased and all the necessary information in their databases to be able to traced you in the event that your pet gets lost.
The microchip implanted under the pet's skin reflects the low-frequency radio waves given by the scanner. The unique alphanumeric code is then retrieved, decoded, and displayed in the scanner readout window when the animal is scanned. Scanners can be handheld that have a reading range of about 3 inches and some are larger and more powerful that have reading ranges that vary from 6 to 20 inches.
When a lost pet is found by an animal control officer or is taken to an animal shelter or humane society, the professionals there will scan the animal using a handheld scanner, which will let them know if a microchip has been implanted. If there is indeed an implanted chip, the scanner will read the number and the shelter staff member can call the appropriate registry for the identity of the owner.
For pets traveling to all countries with the exception of China, you should use ISO 15 digit microchip that meets ISO standards 11784/11785. This is because the immigration officers use the microchips to compare the pet they are scanning to the presented veterinary documents.
There are still some owners who are against microchips even though studies have shown that using microchips to track your pet is completely safe. There is an issue reported that these microchips are the culprits that cause Fibro Sarcomas in the animals that have been implanted with these devices.
However, a lot of pet owners are not affected by this issue because of the obvious advantages of microchips. The process of implanting a microchip is quick and no more painful than a vaccination. The chip can't get lost and it is encoded with a unique and unalterable identification code that can only be activated when read by a scanner. A microchip doesn't not need replacing as it is designed to last the lifetime of a pet; once injected, it is anchored in place as a thin layer of connective tissue forms around it. The owner's name and address are available on regional or national databases so your pet can be returned quickly and safely.
Providing your pet with a microchip can help ensure a happy reunion if the unthinkable happens: your beloved pet gets lost. But still the decision of microchipping you pet lies in your hands.
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