I always thought that because my cat was microchipped, if he ever roamed off and was picked up by an animal shelter, that I would be contacted and we would be reunited. But that's an incorrect assumption.
1. Because there are so many different microchip companies, the shelter must have a universal scanner to "read" these chips; different chips have different "frequencies." According to the Humane Society, most shelters (but not all) now have a universal scanner.
2. If your pet is microchipped and you move or change your telephone number and/or email address, it is also necessary to provide your new information to the microchip pet registry.
3. A pet collar that includes your contact information is key. If your dog or cat slip out of the house and a neighbor finds them, they know who to contact.
4. You can also register your pet's microchip number directly with your local animal shelter.
Last weekend, I ventured out to Oakland Animal Services and registered my Maine Coon cat.
While I waited, I sat next to a woman named Geneva whose 30-year old daughter had fallen from her bicycle on an Oakland bike trail, injured her wrist, and fell unconscious. The young woman was also accompanied by her dog. A passerby saw the woman and the dog and called 911. While the woman was taken by ambulance to the hospital, her dog was taken to Oakland Animal Services. The dog was not collared or microchipped.
Once at the hospital, the woman's mother was contacted. Upon regaining consciousness, the young woman was greeted by her mother. She was frantic about the safety of her dog. Was he alright? Where was he?
Geneva called Oakland Animal Services, described the dog, and the dog was found. But, before releasing the dog, he was microchipped and registered with the Shelter, given vaccinations, and licensed. I witnessed the happy reunion between the dog and his family.
For a good outcome to a common story about lost pets, take steps to ensure that you and your pet will be reunited and that the outcome to your story is as happy as Geneva's daughter and her pet companion.
