It happens in a split second.
It happens when answering the front door at home, and through car windows or doors.
It happens during thunderstorms and fireworks, or when the meter reader, gardener, neighbor, or pet-sitter accidentally leaves the gate open.
The point is, despite your best efforts and firm belief that your pet will never get lost or run away, we see it happen all the time.
HomeAgain, the microchip and registry database, reports that every month they reunite about 10,000 lost pets with their rightful owners. Every. Month.
Reunited! Thanks to the pet’s microchip and the owner’s updated contact information in the registry database.
A proper collar with I.D. tags is an important first step, but it’s not enough.
Fortunately, we are among a community of good neighbors here in Clairemont who know to bring found pets to the closest veterinary clinic, animal shelter, or humane society to be scanned. Of the pets our staff has scanned, many either weren’t wearing any collar at all, or the information printed on the I.D. tag was out of date.
Here are links to a few different pet tag. I.D. web pages, as well as a very unique pet collar I.D. website. Although we don’t ‘endorse’ any of these companies, we do attempt to refer to local businesses whenever possible.
Pet Blessings Dog I.D. Tags
Pet Blessings Cat I.D. Tags
Identicollar by Identiproducts
Even when the owner’s contact information is out of date, the pet’s name usually never changes from what is printed on their I.D. tags. And to a frightened, confused, or possibly injured pet, there is no sweeter sound than that of their own name. Again, a properly fitting collar with I.D. tags will improve the odds of your pet being returned to you quickly, but this alone is not enough.
Microchips are a one-time service; they don’t fall off, nor do you need to remember to put them back on (like a collar with tags), and they’ll stay active throughout your pet’s lifetime.
Providing you keep your contact information up-to-date in the microchip registry database, this is the best way to ensure your pet is returned to you.
We carry HomeAgain microchips. HomeAgain offers a client portal making it quick and easy to update your contact information, include information for a secondary emergency contact person, and information about your veterinary clinic or 24-hour emergency hospital you’d prefer care for your pet if injured. Additionally, you can upload a picture and note any medical problems (blind, deaf, allergies, diabetes, etc.) or special needs (needs insulin, needs a prescription diet, etc) in the pet portal area.
HomeAgain will allow you to register any manufacturers’ microchip in their database.
Please call us if you have any questions about microchipping your pet. Your pet is never too old, and does not need to wait for an anesthetic procedure. Please chat with your veterinarian if you are worried about pain. Here at CoastView Veterinary Hospital, we are very much in favor of pain-free / fear-free veterinary experiences. We’d be happy to discuss using a local anesthetic at the injection site before we insert the microchip.
