20th June 2007

Chips For Peace Of Mind

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It's National Microchipping Month, so what better time to get your pet protected for life. Sadly, without a microchip your pet is extremely unlikely to find its way home. With one, the chances of being re-united if he or she is lost or stolen are massively increased.

It's a sad fact that most lost pets don't ever find their way back to their owners - not because they don't want to, but because they simply don't have proper identification.

No so for Pumpkin the cat, who was returned to her owners on 27 January 2007 after going missing on Christmas Eve. The pedigree tortoiseshell British short-haired cat, was found only two doors away from her home in Forfar Street, Northampton, although she'd been missing for nearly a month. The RSPCA received calls that a cat was stuck in an empty house and Animal Collection Officer (ACO) Sally Jones went to investigate. Sally contacted the owner of the house and found Pumpkin inside.

Before scanning the cat for a microchip, Sally decided to first ask neighbours if they knew the cat. The first door she knocked on was Mrs Carol Appleby's, next door but one to the house. Mrs Appleby was amazed when she discovered that the cat Sally had found was her pet.

Pumpkin, who is almost three years old, had not returned after one of her short outside trips on 24 December 2006. Her distraught owners had contacted the RSPCA and other animal welfare organisations, Petlog microchip database and local vets, as well as posting leaflets through doors and contacting the local radio station, but it was all to no avail.

"I am so pleased the RSPCA got the call about Pumpkin. Thankfully, she is microchipped, so even if she had been further afield the chances are that she would still have been returned."

But the chances of an RSPCA officer knocking on your door randomly when they find your missing pet are very slim. If you want a happy ending like Pumpkinís owners, it's time to microchip your pet.

This June is National Microchipping Month, organised by the Kennel Club and backed by the RSPCA. It is the perfect opportunity for pet owners to get their trusted companions microchipped - similar to an injection - and reduce the chances of losing their loved ones forever.

During the month, owners can even get their pets microchipped at reduced rates at many special clinics organised by RSPCA branches around the country. A variety of pets, including dogs, cats, horses and ferrets can be chipped. Upcoming events and offers will be advertised locally.

What is microchipping?

• A tiny microchip, the size of a grain of rice, is inserted under the animal's skin similar to an injection, usually at the back of the neck - it can't move or be seen.
• Once an animal has been microchipped it has its own unique number
• Owner's name and address are entered with this number on a national registration database
• If a lost, injured or suspected stolen animal is found, a scanner passed over the microchip reveals the number, which can then be looked up on the database to reveal the owner's details. Vets do not need to get involved in any disputes over ownership - this is all handled by providers like Petlog on 0870 6066 751.

The RSPCA is also calling on dog wardens from local councils to routinely scan all animals for microchips when they first see them. Currently, it is believed that about one in three councils has a written policy on routinely scanning for microchips when stray and injured animals are found - despite the fact that almost all councils have scanners available.

The RSPCA believes that more pets could be happily re-united with their owners if all lost animals were scanned by councils as a matter of routine. All RSPCA inspectors, for example, carry the easy-to-use hand-held scanners and check all animals for microchips at the outset.

The animal welfare officer of St Albans City and District Council in Hertfordshire routinely scans for them.

Between 31 March 2005 and 1 April 2006, the council reunited more than 50% of the 127 stray dogs collected with their owners.

As well as scanning every stray dog, the council also scans dead animals collected and identified as domestic pets. This increases the chances of owners who have microchipped their pets learning of their sad fate instead of continuing to search for them in vain.

This approach to scanning is supported by an active animal welfare officer who delivers a £15 home microchipping service to residents' cats and dogs. The council also welcomes the opportunity to promote animal welfare organisations who provide similar microchipping and neutering services. Liz Jakeman, the council's animal warden, said: "An up-to-date microchip benefits everyone. Owners can be reunited with their dogs more quickly and less dogs have to remain in kennels until they are rehomed. Owners just need to remember to keep their microchip details up to date."

"Microchipping your pet is really the best way to ensure that it has the best possible chance of being returned to you if lost, stolen or involved in an accident," says David Grant, Director of the RSPCA Harmsworth Animal Hospital in north London. "We see so many heart-warming re-unions thanks to a simple microchip, the cost of which is a fraction of the money most owners willingly spend on their loyal pets each year. But there could be so many more success stories if more responsible owners joined the 40,000 each month who are now microchipping their pets."

Vets are also being encouraged to scan as a routine. As well as tracing the owners of stray animals, vets may help detect the true identity of some stolen pets.

"It's vital that we continue to stress the importance of checking for microchips when any new animal arrives at the vets," confirms David Catlow, President of the British Veterinary Association (BVA). "We know how hectic running a busy practice can be for our members, but the truth is that scanning and identifying animals early on, inevitably reduces the strain on the system of looking after and trying to rehome untraceable animals."

And, if vets have concerns about getting involved in disputes over ownership when a microchip reveals information which is different from the current keepers, they needn't. Providers like Petlog - which runs the largest microchip registration scheme - take care of any issues once the location of the scanned animal is reported to them, including any disputes.

Importantly, the RSPCA is also calling for owners with microchipped pets to remember to update their personal details with their microchip registration provider - especially if they change address.

Microchipping really does work in reuniting pets and owners - even in extreme circumstances. A pet cat from Bristol probably used up one of its nine lives after travelling for 180 miles under the bonnet of a car last year.

Nacho hitched a ride from his home to Liverpool after sneaking into the Vauxhall Astra.

The tabby's owner, Natalie Roberts, said her mischievous pet had gone out as usual on Sunday but failed to come home. He eventually turned up in Liverpool after getting a free trip with Miss Roberts' neighbour, who was driving a friend to the city.

Miss Roberts, 24, said, "I let him out to go and have a play and I was a bit worried when it got dark and he hadn't returned. He doesn't usually go any further than the end of the garden.

"The following morning I went to work, fearing the worst, thinking he may have been hit by a car. Then I got a call from the RSPCA in Liverpool saying they had found my cat - I was completely shocked."

The six-month-old cat was found after passers-by who noticed a meowing coming from under the bonnet of the car.

The RSPCA traced Miss Roberts through the cat's microchip and the pair were reunited at home in Bristol.

For more information or enquiries about National Microchipping Month, visit www.nationalmicrochippingmonth.org.uk or ask your vet.

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