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Outdoor cats jump fences, indoor cats sneak out the door when you least expect it and what about traveling with your cat? If your cat were to get lost or stolen half way across the country, how will it find its way home? Thousands of cats are lost every single day. The sad fact is that over 20 million animals are euthanized every year because their owners can not be found. Talk to your veterinarian about getting a microchip for your pet today! Although the microchip is convenient, safe, and reliable, the technology is under-utilized in the United States. When you consider that only about 16 percent of lost dogs and 2 percent of lost cats are ever reunited with their owners, it makes sense to take every precaution necessary to prevent that from happening to your beloved pet. The implantation procedure is painless and does not require anesthesia. A veterinarian uses a hypodermic needle to inject a tiny computer chip, about the size of a grain of rice, just under your pet's skin between the shoulder blades. The microchip contains a unique identification number which is entered into a national database with your contact information. If your lost pet is found, any humane society, veterinarian's office, or animal shelter can scan the microchip to read the number contained in the chip. The identification number is then checked against a national database and as soon as your number is matched you are contacted that your pet has been found. There will be a one-time microchip processing fee which is generally around $45 to $50. This fee may be less if packaged with another veterinary procedure. The chip is made out of an inert, biocompatible substance, which will not degenerate nor cause an allergic reaction. There are no moving parts to break, nor is there a battery which could go bad. Because of the way the chip is designed, once in place, it will not move to any sensitive organs or tissues. Although technology can help us find a lost or stolen pet, it is not fool-proof. For instance, if a person finds your loveable lost puppy on their doorstep, they most likely will not have a microchip scanner. Remember to place ID tags on your pet's collar, in addition to the microchip, for the best possibility of making sure that your pet is returned home safely. Bev Storer is a writer and researcher in Portland, Oregon. She writes frequently on pet health and related topics. She is owner of several websites that market nutritional supplements for humans and healthy food and products for dogs and cats. ŠPet Articles 2004 - 2006
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