The Best Laid Plans
Most of us make the best plans we can to ensure that our loved ones are safe. We install smoke detectors in our homes, wear seatbelts in our cars, and budget carefully so that we save money to cover emergencies. We hold our children’s hands and keep our beloved pet on a leash when crossing the street. We insist they stay near us when we’re on an outing, ensuring their safety in every way we can. We plan for the unexpected, and some of us even develop plans A, B, C, and D “just in case.” We’re thorough and responsible when considering the needs of those we love the most.
In Spite Of Them
Sometimes, despite the plans we make and precautions we take, the unexpected happens. Perhaps our pets decide they no longer like their regular food but love the expensive stuff, or, somehow, their license and tags fall off their collar. An even bigger what-if is, what if my pet escapes while the door is open or develops fear of fireworks and runs away? These scenarios are plausible. Fortunately, there is a way to find our pets that greatly increases the possibility that you’ll be reunited with a runaway fur friend: a microchip.
About Microchips
A microchip is a microscopic electronic device. It’s about the size of a grain of rice and is enclosed inside a glass capsule. It’s implanted just beneath your pet’s skin, usually positioned between their shoulder blades. A microchip:
- Does not require your pet to have surgery or anesthesia
- Is injected through a needle slightly larger than one used to administer a shot
- Can be placed during a routine office visit or during another procedure like spaying or neutering
- Is activated through radio wave technology when a microchip scanner is waved across your pet’s body
- Has a unique identification number that goes into a registry detailing your information
A microchip isn’t:
- GPS technology that can track your pet’s location
- A replacement for your pet’s license, collar, or rabies vaccination tag
- Something you can do at home because it must be implanted by a knowledgeable provider
Your Responsibility As A Pet Owner
As many as one in three pets get lost at some point in their lives, but microchipping significantly increases the number of pets who are reunited with their owners. A study detailed in American Veterinary Medicine Association Publications showed that 72.7% of stray pets, taken to 53 shelters across the US, were reunited with their owners because of their microchips. An owner can only be contacted if their address and telephone numbers are current, so it’s critical that you update that information anytime there’s a change in it.
Cloquet Animal Hospital
Cloquet Animal Hospital in Cloquet, MN partners with HomeAgain Pet Recovery, which has helped reunite over 400,000 pets with their people. We can microchip your pet to ensure that you can find them, and they can find you, should you become separated. This tiny device will make a huge difference to you and your best fur friend when you need it most. Contact us for more information.
Image credit: Pexels