Does anyone here not believe in Microchipping?

We had the interesting issue come up recently of dog coming in, surrendered by an owner, with an international chip that our scanners couldn't read. Now, i work at a very nice shelter and if our scanners don't pick it up, the county pound sure isn't going to so we rechipped him with a domestic (AVID, in our case) chip. Now he has two chips. It kind of sucks that you can't deactivate or (easily) remove them.

 I'll be honest: It's not painless. I've seen hundreds and hundreds of animals chipped and many don't make a sound but plenty do! It's a big needle. But the pain is quick and most dogs go back to be their happy selves in a few minutes.

 I also know of one dog whose chip migrated or stopped working altogether. My roommate and I went on a chipping spree in the house and chipped/scanned all the animals that didn't have a chip and scanned the ones that were supposed to and sure enough, her dogs chip was gone! So, lesson: Verify regularly that your chip is working.

At the shelter we had dog come in severely matted. We scanned the dog and then shaved the dog down. In that order. Then, we rescanned the dog about a week later and sure enough, she had a chip that hadn't been picked up the first time b/c she was so matted so she had to sit around for another 10 days while a certified letter was sent out.

Also, we probably get in 200 dog a year (most likely more) as strays with chips and honestly, 80% of them don't have UTD info and most don't get reunited with their owners. We get very few cats with chips and they're usually dead.

Big lesson: CHIPS ARE NOT INFALLIBLE. You MUST keep them UTD and keep a collar and ID tag anyway. It's just a good idea.

 

Maze isn't microchipped but she is tattooed. My vet offers tattoos half price when you bring in the dog to be altered. I live in such a small town that every one know who she is and she still has her id tag and license. If I were to move in to a larger city, then yes I will get her mircochipped . But until then I'm not to worried about her going missing.

I'm more worried about vaccines then anything at the moment. I haven't done Maze's puppy shots and she only has her rabies and she's as healthy as the next dog. But again, I live in such a small area that my vet said if I didn't want them done, I didn't have to have them done as there is no major risk in this area.

malnmutt

with an international chip that our scanners couldn't read

That's what happened with the Banfield chip! One scanner read it... but me - being my curious self, scanned him with our other scanner, and sure enough - it didn't show up! So I rechipped him with an 24 petwatch chip.

We tell all people that adopt from us to contact us with their new information, along with the chip company. We tell them how many dogs come in with info that is out of date. We do get a lot of calls with people wanting to update their info - I just wish there was a better way to get that info out there - that people need to update their info.

that's what I dont get either about why people tattoo their dogs... i had a dog a LONG time ago when I was younger, and the breeder had the dog tattooed in his inner thigh.... however, for the life of me, i never was able to figure out what any of the letters/numbers were....

coco is microchipped.... i got it done, albeit VERY expensively ($30 for the chip, $35 to 'place' the chip.) when she got spayed, even though I could have gotten it done for less than half the price elsewhere...simply because i wanted it done when she was under anesthesia since she's a wuss and i didnt want to cause her more pain than absolutely neccessary... i chipped for ease of mind so that if she was ever to get "lost" we'll be reunited... (feeling reunited and it feels so good.... lol)

as with vaccines, she has her puppies, and her 1 year booster, and her 3 year rabies... i'm done with vaccinating her besides the required rabies.

oranges81

I haven't done Maze's puppy shots and she only has her rabies and she's as healthy as the next dog. But again, I live in such a small area that my vet said if I didn't want them done, I didn't have to have them done as there is no major risk in this area.

Just keep in mind that people can carry Parvo around on their shoes.  If they come to your home from an area with Parvo, then ???

janet_rose

oranges81

I haven't done Maze's puppy shots and she only has her rabies and she's as healthy as the next dog. But again, I live in such a small area that my vet said if I didn't want them done, I didn't have to have them done as there is no major risk in this area.

Just keep in mind that people can carry Parvo around on their shoes.  If they come to your home from an area with Parvo, then ???

I've spoken to my vet about that as well. And apparently there's not a major risk for Parvo here. I am going to start getting her blood titered thou. Also not many people come to my house either.. So I'm not to worried about it. If/when I do move in to a large area with a higher dog population then yeah I'll find a way to get Maze protected. Until then.. *shrugs*

None of my other dogs had been vax against parvo either and no problems there.. 

I don't chip. There are several reasons.  For starters, if my dogs were lost they'd have to be turned over to either a shelter/rescue/or maybe a vetrinarians office, there are only so many of those around and you bet I'd be calling each one if my dog were missing.  We don't have many strays where I live (actually, I've never seen a stray dog in my life to be honest), so a wandring dog would be cause for concern.   Also, I've read so much about some scanners only picking up some chips.  Plus, my dogs always have their tags on and don't have a history of running off, I believe someone here would take measures to find the owner before handing the dog over to a shelter. I guess to me it seems like all the factors have to be just right for the chip to work at re-uniting a lost pet with an owner and I haven't found the idea of them to be worth the cost or the procedure.  If we had different circumstances I would probably get it done, but at this time I am holding off.

I dont think anything implanted anywhere is safe!

Does anyone actually know of a dog that had cancer caused by a microchip?  I asked b/c people bring it up to me a lot.  I've never heard of a single animal getting cancer from a chip. 

Liesje

Does anyone actually know of a dog that had cancer caused by a microchip? 

Nope, I don't know of any at this point. And I know a good fair share of dogs. *G* That's not to say a cyst or growth around the chip isn't possible, but I haven't seen it, and having talked to my vet (I like to know about a wider range than just those I know), he's never seen it yet either.

nope!

and you know how many dogs I see not only on a daily, but monthy and yearly basis. If there was to be one, I'm sure I would have heard about it by now. I'm sure it would be all over the news - because of the popularity of chipping.

I'm sorry - I want my pets back. and I'm willing to do anything to make that happen. You can't forsee the future, and you never know what is going to happen with nature - you can say you'll never be seperated from your pet, but the truth is - you neve know what will happen. I saw this all too clearly with Hurricane Katrina, and the others. I'm sure those people never thought their dogs would end up on the other side of the country, but they did. Things happen, and if those things were to happen to me? I'd want my dogs back.

My breeder had Cheza chipped, but Salem isn't done yet. I'm going to get it done soon though. I really don't have an excuse not to get it done, I just never have. Both of my dogs are glued to my side, but you never know what will happen. The Katrina point was a good one. I want to make absolute sure that my dogs will get back to me.

Both of my dogs are chipped.  And the cancer risk?  As far as I can tell, just about *everything* can cause cancer these days.  I heard the other day that bras cause cancer, but I not out in the yard burning mine...  The odds that one of my dogs will get loose are far greater than that they will get cancer from a microchip as far as I'm concerned.  

Although I also realize that there is a chance that the microchip might not be read if they were to get loose and be found, there is also a chance that their collar could slip off (or be taken off by someone).  However, that does not mean that I won't put ID tags on the dogs.  I just see the microchip as increasing the odds.

In addition, in case anyone has an illusions to the contrary, "the man" does not need a microchip to keep track of you.  You are easily tracked by your credit, use of bank accounts, employment, DMV records and registration, social security number, store discount cards, traffic cameras, security cameras, use of the computer, and Google.  

brookcove

I gave a bitch to a friend about five years ago, who was tatooed in this way, and her tat is still as legible as ever. 

Gracie was tattooed at 8weeks old.  She turns 5 on Tuesday.  You'd think with growth, etc, that things would change....  Her tattoo is still just as dark/legible as ever.  The only thing is that hair has grown over part of her tat.  She's so thin-haired that all it takes is brushing the hair one side vs the other.  But someone could shave her/any dog if necessary to read the full tat better.

I was sold on tattoos back in the 80s when a bloodhound came into our shelter.  After discovering the tattoo and looking it up w/the registry, it turns out the dog had been missing for almost 2 years.  Happily reunited with its family.

I think that whether you tattoo or microchip is a matter of personal preferences.  Both cause momentary discomfort.  Both are only useful if someone looks for the tat or the chip.  But, the main thing is to do something that permanently identifies your dog, and, as someone rightly suggested, be sure that your dog always has a collar and tags on.  The only time my dogs are ever without their ID is when they play with other dogs in my training facility, so as not to get a tooth or claw caught.  But, we have a rather strict door policy, and double doors to prevent escapes;-)

Even if you have tags, it's a good idea to add one that has your phone number on it.  Some people are just lazy, or think any dog that gets loose is a stray that no one cares about.  Funny, when their dogs get loose, they don't feel that way.  Anyhow, the presence of the phone number seems to tell them that someone would be sad if the dog were lost, so they call, more often than not.