There is hope for all of the lost pets!
Working in the veterinary field for over 12 years now I have seen my fair share of lost pets. Many of these pets are brought in by good Samaritans who have taken on the responsibility of being the pet's new owner. Other good Samaritans are hopeful the veterinary staff recognizes the pet and it can be returned home before the inevitable - the shelter! I have also seen the occasional pet (or litter of kittens) who have been dropped at the back door of the veterinarians office.
These animals always break my heart. If not for my husband and two children, I might be living in a house surrounded by dogs and cats that I was not able to turn away. Luckily my husband keeps me grounded and the reality is: our house is too small, the budget too tight, and our time too limited for all of these lost pets that have crossed my path.
There is hope for all of the lost pets! More common now is a small implantation of a microchip. This chip is very small and gives your pet their very own "barcode" that can be scanned by a veterinarian's office or the local shelter or humane society. Even when pets are lost without their collars or their collars and tags fall off during their adventure the microchip will stay with them. Owners register their information and the pet's information (including medical alerts) with a national database that is able to track down the pet's owner or veterinarian. Wow! How nice it would be to see these pets return to their loving homes. You may have even heard stories of returned animals because of their microchip. The most recent story I remember is a lady in the Muskegon area whose cat had been missing for 3 years! Because of his microchip he was able to return home after 3 years of being lost (or on an adventure as the cat might see it).
These microchips are relatively inexpensive and quick and easy for your veterinarian or veterinary staff to implant - a small price to pay for life-long identification.
MICROCHIP DAY IS SATURDAY, APRIL 21ST, 2012
1:00PM to 3:00PM at Oceana Veterinary Clinic.
$25 will microchip your pet (and give you peace of mind!)