What is Pet Microchipping? - If you think pet microchipping is a little too Big Brotherish, consider that 33 percent of pets go missing at some point in their lives. Despite the heartwarming reunion tales we all love, only 10 percent make it back. A great many of the 73 million pet dogs and 90 million pet cats in the United States are more than just household pets; they are members of the family, and their loss is certainly deeply felt. A pet microchip is the most effective means of finding lost pets, and they are not reserved only for show dogs, purebreds, or those with high monetary value. Technology has made them a possibility for virtually every pet - but what about your pet? How does microchipping work, and will it work for you? Is it safe for your pet? How much does it cost? Pet microchips answer one question: where is your pet? This guide will tackle the others so you can determine if a pet chip is right for you.
How Does Pet Microchipping Work? - The technology behind pet microchips is decades-old, and as technology will, the prices have come down far enough that these chips can be used by many more people. It has also become smaller. A pet chip is about the size of a grain of rice. But in that grain of rice is the ability to find your cat or dog. Chips uses RFID, radio frequency identification technology to store data, and when prompted, communicate that data. The data stored is an identification number that is unique to your pet. If your pet becomes lost and is taken to a shelter, he will be scanned with an electromagnetic wand, and this number is retrieved. If you're picturing a flashing homing beacon, that's not the case. The pet chip is inert with no battery and no internal power source. When the electromagnetic wand is waved over it, the identification number can be read.
A vet needs to implant the chip, and this causes many pet owners considerable worry. They don't want to cause pain to their animals. You cause just a little bit of pain, or surprise, when you give your dog a vaccination, and implanting a microchip is comparable. Your dog doesn't need to be put under general anesthesia, though some vets use a local anesthesia. The process, too, is much like a shot between the shoulder blades. The vet gathers the flesh, inserts the needle, and pulls the retractor handle back to insert the chip. It seems a bit anticlimactic, doesn't it? But it really is that simple.
Enrolling in a Pet Microshipping Service - Having the pet microchip inserted into your dog or cat, though, doesn't do a bit of good unless you register the pet chip. When you register with a company like HomeAgain or AVID, you provide your pet's ID number and up-to-date contact information for you or your vet so if your pet is lost, this information can be used to return him. What is the best pet microchipping service then? In many countries around the world, pet chips conform to an international standard. This means that all pet microchips can be read by all scanners. In the US, there are 3 proprietary chips competing, and you also have the international standard. It used to be a big problem for pet owners because their HomeAgain pet chip couldn't be read by an Avid scanner, for instance. Today, though, there are "quad-read" scanners that can read the 3 proprietary chips, as well as the international chip.
Which Pet Microchip for Dogs and Cats is Best?:
Two companies will undoubtedly stand out when you are considering pet microchipping options: AVID and HomeAgain. How do these compare?
AVID, or American Veterinary Identification Devices, uses the PETtrac global recovery network, which is a computerized database to which you supply your pet's ID number and your contact information after the "FriendChip" is implanted. This procedure typically costs about $25 to $50 (depending on the area in which your vet practices), and you pay a one-time $20 fee to register your pet with PETtrac. According to AVID, over 1400 lost pets are recovered every day around the world with AVID, more than any other company. You can either contact your vet for information about implanting an AVID microchip or email AVID directly for information and quotes (http://www.avidid.com/catalog/index.html).
HomeAgain is another leading pet chip provider that offers rapid lost pet alerts, 24/7 emergency medical hotline, and travel assistance for lost pets. What is great about HomeAgain is that even if you get a chip from another provider, you can register your pet with their database. Over 6.5 million pets are registered with HomeAgain, and they have helped more than 600,000 pets find their way home. Inserting the microchip costs about $45, and your pet will be in the database forever. If you pay an annual fee of $17, you can take advantage of HomeAgain's membership services (including rapid lost pet alerts, posters, and more). You can search for vets who can insert the HomeAgain chip here (http://www.homeagain.com/homeagain/vetSearch.do).
Which service is better? Both chips operate on the same frequency and so should be readable by today's scanners. Prices are comparable, so it comes down to your preference and the extra services you want, if any. Dog and cat forums discuss this question ad naseum and there is no clear winner. Some people prefer HomeAgain because they have HomeAgain, while some prefer AVID. One issue that may sway your decision: AVID charges a fee ($6 in the US) to update contact information. You can pay a one-time fee of about $25 to join PETtrac Plus so you do not have to pay for updating contact info. HomeAgain allows you to change and update your information for free on their website. This is one consideration you may want to keep in mind.
Another is international travel. Neither AVID's US version nor HomeAgain chips can be read by international scanners, so if you plan on traveling with your pet, you may want to consider an ISO compatible chip. Many countries around the world, including those in the European Union, require a microchip be implanted so they can compare the animal to the documentation you provide. If you go abroad and your dog has the US standard 9 digit microchip, you will either have to implant a second chip that is compatible with international standards or carry your own scanner. (The HomeAgain Pocket Scanner costs about $360).
AVID also makes an ISO compatible pet chip, which is different than that standard 9 digit one. If international travel is important, make sure to get a 15 digit chip that operates on the 134.2 frequency (as opposed to the 125 frequency that HomeAgain and AVID's US chip operate).
The cost of inserting and using a pet microchip is so low that it makes sense for virtually any pet owner. Just recently, a cat who had survived Hurricane Katrina was reunited with her owner - five years later. Pet and owner are together again because of a tiny rice-sized chip. If your pet is lost, have the peace of mind knowing you have an entire database working to get him back.
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