The subject of to chip or not to chip our pets has been a hotly debated topic over the course of the past month in Riverside County. The new ordinance that requires identifying microchips on most dogs and cats in unincorporated Riverside County has pet owners seeking ways to educate themselves on what exactly microchipping is and how it affects their pets.
A microchip is a tiny transponder that is the size of a grain of uncooked rice (12mm). The chip is injected beneath the surface of the pets skin between the shoulder blades under the loose skin. No anesthetic is required and the process takes a few seconds. There is a permanent radio-frequency inside the chip and it is read by a chip scanner or wand. A chip identification number is stored in a tiny transponder and the whole chip is encased in a tiny glass tube made up of soda lime which is sealed to keep moisture out. The microchip does not have an internal energy source so it will last the life of your pet.
There are two companies that comprise most pet identifying microchips. They are Home Again and Avid. Veterinarians for the most
part can only implant the Home Again chips. Avid chips are different because they can be implanted by animal shelters, individuals and veterinarians. The chips used by both Home Again and Avid work on a frequency of 125 kHz, but many scanners used by vets for the Home Again systems cannot read the codes on Avid chips. There has been much discussion to develop a universal scanner that can read both chips so that it will eliminate the need to have two scanners to retrieve a code. A few chips do move out of place or cannot be found by scanners, Home Again remedied this problem by placing a special coating on the transponder that bonds to the dog's subcutaneous tissue.
Many pet owners are not aware that once their pet is chipped they need to register their pet in the companies database so that they can be contacted in the event their pet goes missing and is picked up and scanned. Prices vary from one veterinarian to the next for implanting microchips. Home Again has an annual fee of $14.99 for membership while Avid has no annual membership fee at this time.
A microchip is the only form of pet identification that is permanent, it is a unique number assigned to your pet that cannot be altered or removed. All pets should wear collars and tags but in many cases collars slip off or rip thus leaving your pet without a form of identification if the pet is lost. The goal of microchipping is to reunite lost pets with their owners, contact your local shelter or vet for information on how to get your pet chipped in your area.
Erika Allis, The Pet Patrol
