microchipping your animals

[shanti]

i'm not sure if i like this. last month, we got a new pound kitty, and one of the requirements was to chip him. i went along with the program, but now i'm feeling a bit uneasy about it. my kitten is an indoor only animal, so getting outside is not really the issue to me. am i being 'noid?

what do you all think about chips?

[LastKnight]

1. big brother is watching

your litterbox

[XemaSab]

2. I think they're great!

Even indoor kitties can escape (as I learned once when our cat got left with asshole neighbors) and there's nothing more depressing than going to the pound looking in ALL the cages for your kitty.

[bridgit]

3. tim is chipped...

he came that way :thumbsup:

[shanti]

8. what a handsome fellow!

:-)

[bridgit]

12. yeah, that's our tim alright, he's very sweet too...

:hi:

[roguevalley]

25. if he ever gets out, you will be glad you did.

[bridgit]

27. i agree...

:hi:

[Crazy Guggenheim]

4. I have a little about it. However, if the kitty gets loose then

you can find the little angel.

[Liberal Veteran]

5. Last week....Mischief decided to hide and I thought he was outside.

And I was cursing myself for not chipping him.

[Ready2Snap]

6. Did you check

to see where they put the camera and transceiver?

[xultar]

7. Are you kidding. My pets are chipped and I wouldn't have it any other way

For their safety and your peace of mind. I have 3 indoor cats and they all have their chips. I couldn't wait to get them chipped.

One lady's cat was found in San Francisco how it got there from TX was a mystery. They were reunited years later.

Spay, neuter, vaccinate, and CHIP!

[shanti]

11. ninja had all that done

when i picked him up. i'm very pro neutering/spaying!

that IS a mystery how the cat got so far...is it a "fancy breed" cat?

[xultar]

24. nope regular shorthair. I saw it on Animal Planet. I was in tears

by the end of the story it was so awesome.

[Kerrytravelers]

9. Out little Pitter-pat came chipped. It's ok, I think.

If he gets out and loses his name collar, he can't speak for himself. Hopefully, the finder would take him to the ASPCA and get hm scanned. But, little Pitter-pater never goes outside...

[petronius]

10. My cat got chipped when he was adopted 10 years ago

and it hasn't caused any problems. Of course we've moved many times since then, and so it wouldn't do any good if he got lost. If I remember correctly, all the chip contains is a serial number that links to the vet who implanted it - to identify the animal the pound would have to contact that vet to get the address of the owner (or perhaps there's a broader database, I'm not sure). If the address is not kept up to date in the records, then the chip becomes useless...

[shanti]

13. ok

that was the info i was looking for...i'm not sure if i even filled out the info that i was supposed to, just know that they DID chip him.

thanks! ;-)

[DELUSIONAL]

19. I opted to keep the address record as my Vet

so that even if I travel and he gets lost and then found -- there will be a record with my Vet. The Vet has a computer database of animals they have micro chipped and if they get an inquiry they can notify the owners.

That means I need to keep my contact info current with the Vet.

As an alternative -- when moving TOP of the "To Do" list -- update address for animal microchips.

[Pool Hall Ace]

14. I highly recommend chipping

My dog is chipped. Our local shelter and vet routinely scan any strays brought in.

[skygazer]

15. I don't have any chipped animals

My only concern about it is that from what I understand, there are several different chips available and they are not all compatible with the same scanning equipment. So if you have your animal chipped with one device, they may be found by a facility that has a different one and the chip will not be read.

However, I have no idea how accurate (or inaccurate) that may be - I read about it somewhere recently but cannot really recall all the details.

My opinion is though, that it's a good idea for the most part. As long as the animal also bears more conventional identification as well, as chip reading equipment is not yet universal.

[VelmaD]

16. Apparently I'm the first true paranoid to respond...

because I think it's a way to make people comfortable with the technology so we'll eventually let them chip us.

[shanti]

30. OK!!

see, that's where i got to thinking about this, the thread about the human microchipping.

[SOteric]

17. I'm all for it.

It's not like it comes with the little dude's credit card number or anything.

I might feel differently if my cat were able to speak for himself, ask directions and get home again were he ever lost or kidnapped.

Not long ago poopyhead or poopyheads unknown entered by apartment in my absence and stole a bunch of my stuff, including my computer. He/She/They frightened the poohockey out of my cat and he was not in my home when I got there, - which frightened the poohockey out of me.

StirFry was so traumatised that he still jumps when he hears a stranger at the door.

So, someone breaks into your place and kitty gets out. Wouldn't you want to know that the local pound might look for his chip rather than just put him down?

I know, I know, people are all sorts of afraid that it's a stepping stone to a deeper invasion of government in our lives.

But it's really dramatically different. Pets cannot speak or ask to be returned to their homes, their pawprints are not on file with the department of animal control, and their very lives are at stake in identity issues. Get your pet chipped and don't worry about it. The chip refers back to my vet's office with a serial number. The only person with my address and info is the vet himself, and he has that anyway so he can send me vaccine update reminders.

[shanti]

31. thanks for your input

i didn't really think about a situation like that. even in a fire, an animal would probably disappear....it makes sense now.

[flvegan]

18. No rescue leaves us without one.

They are invaluable, as many vets and most shelters have the scanners. Your kitty ever DOES get out and picked up, you want to get called, right?

[Spock_is_Skeptical]

20. Most rescues use them now... they are good for pets

although how long is it 'til they start marketing this to paranoid, worry-wort parents? "Better chip 'em at birth, that way if they get abducted, you can track 'em!"

Just think of what that could end up meaning, eventually....

yeeks

[pitohui]

21. they're fine

if your pet is ever lost or stolen, you can PROVE the kitty is yrs

before the chip, you'd be surprised how many people would find a pet and quietly keep it and refuse to give it up to the owner even when discovered

[sbj405]

22. Here's why I got mine chipped . . .

One morning two friendly pups showed up at my door. I called the number on their tags (which was a town about 10 miles away). No answer, just a machine. Then I realized that they had a chip tag. Called that number and they were able to reach the owners who were out of town. Turns out the dogs were being watched by friends in my neighborhood and had jumped the fence. Really made me see the utility of the chip. In addition to the possibility of your dog ending up in a shelter and being id'ed, there's also another 24/7 number for someone to call if your pet gets away.

We travel alot and are also frequently out of the area hiking and backpacking with the dogs. I think it's a good idea for pets and not creepy at all. Now people, that's another story . . .

[Kathleen04]

23. Does anyone know

how to update the information on the chip? My cat was chipped when we got her but that was about 12 years ago! Probably won't update the info since my mom actually does live in the same apartment complex even though the phone # is probably outdated, but I'm curious.

[barb162]

28. Call the chip place right away and they will send a written

confirmation for your file. Also check the confirm letter very carefully. Last time I changed phones they screwed the number up by one digit and I recalled and they sent the new confirm letter.

[barb162]

26. I like them. Even though my cats are also indoor, they are

chipped. My house was vandalized in the middle of a bitter winter (completely smashed patio door)when I was on vacation. All my cats ran out when the automatic furnace shutoff kicked in and the house was zero temperature or below. Luckily I found them all a few days later. My brother was coming in once a day to feed them but they were all gone by the time he got there.

I know a woman whose cage broke when she was getting in her car at the vet. The cat ran and she got it back about 2 weeks later because animal control checked for the chip.

[Ladyhawk]

29. My parrot is microchipped. He has been since he was about six.

Are you worried the chip will hurt him in some way? Gabby has carried his for twelve years.

[AuntieM1957]

32. Are you worried about unnecessary surgery

or afraid of BB?

Both, I understand & feel a bit myself.

But, imagine your new pet gets lost and you can't find it.

It winds up at a pound. Here in Harris County TEXAS, our Repug gov't decided that a great way to make a few $$$ was to sell pound animals to labs.

Having a chip might save it from a worse hell.