What if your pet gets lost???
We just purchased a universal, international microchip scanner. With the significant military population in our area, it was important to get a scanner that can read American as well as international microchips, as they are very different. As recently as 10 years ago, only one scanner existed that could do that. Thankfully, availability of these scanners is increasing. We’re happy to be able to provide yet another service to be as thorough as possible with your pet’s medical history!
Previously, if you, the pet owner, didn’t know your pet’s microchip number, we just had to shrug our shoulders. Now, we can scan your pet and collect their microchip number for our records, as well as your records. Why is this important? If your pet is lost and turns up at a shelter or vet clinic, the first thing they will do is scan your pet for a microchip. Whoever does the scanning will then contact the microchip company to get the contact information you provided them when you registered your pet.
Wait a minute.
Now you’re thinking “Oh no, did I register my pet?”
A lot of people haven’t! If you adopted your pet from a rescue or shelter, at least that organization’s phone number will be on record with the microchip company. But what about yours? Is it an old cell phone number? Address from three moves ago? Ex-girlfriend? When I worked at the Humane Society of Missouri, I can’t tell you how often we’d scan a stray pet, find a microchip, only to get disconnected phone numbers. If that’s the case, what’s the point of having a microchip?
So, we will scan your pet with every initial exam, give you the number, and have it in our records as well. We will also put this number on your pet’s rabies certificate when we vaccinate. That way, animal control will have the number and your contact information on file. Should your pet ever end up there, they will have access to current information.
More importantly, let our new purchase serve as a reminder for you. Call the microchip company and find out what contact information they have on file. (We can help you get the number for whichever brand of chip your pet has.) If everything is accurate, hooray! If not, and if you need to add or change numbers, the microchip company may charge a fee ($20 or so sometimes) to update it. Still, isn’t it worth knowing that if someone finds your lost pet, they’ll be able to contact you?
New Service – Microchip scanning
