26th June 2009

Missing And Microchipped

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If your pet goes missing, no matter how far they go or for how long, the chances of being reunited are much greater if they are microchipped. That’s the message from the UK’s leading veterinary charity, PDSA, which is supporting National Microchipping Month.

The charity has seen three recent cases of missing pets reunited with their owners – thanks to a microchip.

Kent – Reunited After Two Years

A couple from Kent were reunited with their missing pet after nearly two years when the dog was brought into Thamesmead PDSA PetAid hospital.

Nine-year-old Cocker Spaniel Meg went missing in September 2007 when her owners Robert and Carol Smith had their car stolen close to their home in Rochester. Meg was in the car at the time along with the Smith’s two other dogs, Coco and Lucy. The couple contacted the police, dog wardens and animal charities and put up posters in their area to try and trace their pets.

After six months their youngest dog, two-year-old Lucy, was found and returned home but Meg and Coco, aged four, were still missing.

Some 20 months after the pets disappeared, the Smiths received a call from Thamesmead PDSA PetAid hospital. Meg had been brought in by a member of the public after she was found wandering the streets nearby.

Carol Smith said, “We were stunned to get the call out of the blue as we thought we would never see Megan again. We are delighted to have her back home with us. I’m very relieved that we took the decision to microchip our dogs and I would urge other pet owners to do the same. All we want now is for Coco to be found too.”

PDSA is offering microchipping at a discounted cost for the pets of PDSA clients at PetAid hospitals throughout June. The charity’s vets advise microchipping as the most permanent and effective way of identifying a pet. Details of your pet and your contact details are kept on a database and once the chip is scanned this information can be accessed quickly.

Most veterinary practices, charities, police forces and animal shelters have scanners, enabling a pet to be quickly identified and re-united with their owner.

PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Elaine Pendlebury, says, “Ensuring your pet is correctly identified is an important part of responsible pet ownership.

“Pets can go missing for many reasons and sadly, many are never found. It’s not just dogs; cats too may wander off their familiar territory and lose their way, or might be too injured or sick to make it home. But if your pet has been microchipped the chances of being re-united with you are much greater.”

Sent To Coventry

In a rare and unusual case, a cat was ‘sent’ to Coventry, 160 miles away from its home in Swansea!

A cat was brought in as a stray to Coventry PDSA PetAid hospital after it was seen wandering around in the local area. The cat was scanned to see if it was microchipped and it was positively identified as Henry who had been reported missing by his owner Bridget Wells eight months ago in Swansea.

Close To Home

A cat that had been missing for six months was discovered just yards away from its home in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

When Purdie went missing in October 2008 her owners Eamon and Isabel Moloney contacted their local animal rescue centres, leafleted homes and put up posters all over their local area in a bid to find her but to no avail.

Just as the family were coming to terms with the fact that they would not see Purdie again they received a phone call from the nearby Newcastle PDSA PetAid hospital to say she had been found.

Isabel Moloney said, “When we heard the news we were so pleased and relieved to be able to tell our children, Olivia, 14 and Phillip, 12. They burst into tears when they saw her as they had missed her so much. Our families and friends can’t believe she is back home and we are just so grateful we had her microchipped.”

PDSA offers further information in its Identification leaflet which forms part of a larger range of Responsible Pet Care leaflets. These cover a variety of pet care topics including First Aid, Diet and Nutrition and Neutering. The free leaflets are available from PDSA PetAid hospitals and PDSA charity shops nationwide. For further information log onto www.pdsa.org.uk or call freephone 0800 917 2509.

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