This Summer, I found 2 lost, and dehydrated dogs wandering around the hot streets of Phoenix, AZ. Neither one of the dogs that I found (at seperate times), had dog tags around their neck. I took them both immediately to my local veterinarian’s office so that they could scan the dogs, in hopes that they had been micro-chipped. Unfortunately neither of the dogs owners had them micro-chipped. I made posters, called all the surroundings vets offices, posted on face-book etc., and a few days later, both of the dogs owners finally contacted me. One of the families had been so distraught over their missing dog, that they cancelled their family vacation to stay and search for her. If this loving family, had only micro-chipped their Australian Sheperd, they would have been contacted the same day I found her, and their family vacation would have taken place as scheduled.

Dog tags are also very important to being able to find the dogs rightful home, but sometimes they fall off or get scratched and are un-readable. If you micro-chip your dog, they have a permanent dog tag on at all times!……. (Can I please have my 2 children micro-chipped?)

Most everyone has heard of microchipping, and luckily many rescues, shelters, and breeders, automatically micro-chip their dogs & cats, before placing them in a home. Please make sure to ask when you get your pet if they have been micro-chipped. If not, simply take them to your chosen Veterinarian’s office, and have them micro-chip your new pet. The cost is around $50-$75, and most Vets will include your pet’s registration in this fee.

What exactly is a micro-chip? It is a small chip, about the size and shape of a grain of rice that is inserted between an animals shoulder blades. It is not painful for the animal (feels like a shot). It’s purpose is to provide a marker for information about your pet that can be scanned in case your dog is lost or stolen. When a pets micro-chip is scanned, it tells the person scanning the pet, the pets name, the owners name, vet, phone number, and other contact numbers to call. Micro-chips must be registered with a data-base Company, such as the AKC’s Companion Animal Recovery Service. A call to the data-base Company, from the person scanning, will allow them to contact you, or another one of your contacts, to let you know that your missing pet has been found, no matter where they have been discovered. According to the AKC Companion Animal Recovery, lost pets with micro-chips are up to 20 times more likely to be returned to their home.

Losing your pet is so stressful to you and your pet! Please micro-chip your furry family members, in order to insure peace of mind and added security that your pet can be traced back to where they belong…..at home with you:)