Microchips are small devices that are placed under the skin of animals, and allow for pets to be identified readily with the quick swipe of a chip-reader. Every vet I've ever met absolutely loves these little chips, and for good reason. What's not to appreciate about something so simple and effective? Before the wide-spread use of microchips, tracking down a lost pet was a massive undertaking. As vet hospitals are often a first port of call for stray pets picked up by good Samaritans, we in the vet world have witnessed first-hand the joy of a find a lost pet's owner, all because of the microchip.
Of course, like any bit of technology, there are a few downsides. There are:
Luckily, registration difficulties are rare and the painful needle only lasts a second. Importantly, microchips provide a valuable means to identify a stray pet.
Parts of the United Kingdom have recently passed legislation that will require all dog owners to microchip their pets in the future. Northern Ireland has already started the scheme, with England and Wales to start in 2016 (Scotland, interestingly, has yet to announce any similar legislation.) Specific Australian states and European countries also require cats and dogs to be microchipped. The British scheme has largely been met with public approval. One charity, The Dogs Trust , has donated a large sum of free microchips, to encourage folks to get in line with the upcoming law.
Should owners be required to microchip their pets in the United States? Why or why not?
Of course, like any bit of technology, there are a few downsides. There are:
- Sometimes, contact information is not updated. In the flurry of moving home, is it any wonder that we might forget to update the microchip data? Especially if it was placed years ago; it is an important task that is likely to slip the mind.
- In the event of of transferring ownership, say, from a dog given to a rescue group who has now found a forever home, registering under a new owner requires permission from the previous owners. This can be difficult, especially if the previous owner is unknown. Understandably, the microchip companies want to protect pets, and won't change the contact details of an owner without verification from the previous owner.
- They do have a small cost - about $50 at most clinics (including placement.) There are a lot of schemes out there that do it for less. In rare occasions, the pet needs to be sedated to place the chip, which will incur additional costs.
- The needle is large and hurts a little bit. Ideally, the microchip is placed when the pet is being spayed or neutered, under a general anesthetic.
Luckily, registration difficulties are rare and the painful needle only lasts a second. Importantly, microchips provide a valuable means to identify a stray pet.
Parts of the United Kingdom have recently passed legislation that will require all dog owners to microchip their pets in the future. Northern Ireland has already started the scheme, with England and Wales to start in 2016 (Scotland, interestingly, has yet to announce any similar legislation.) Specific Australian states and European countries also require cats and dogs to be microchipped. The British scheme has largely been met with public approval. One charity, The Dogs Trust , has donated a large sum of free microchips, to encourage folks to get in line with the upcoming law.
Should owners be required to microchip their pets in the United States? Why or why not?
Picture by Darren Jamieson