Ingham County Animal Control and Shelter

The Miracle and Misbeliefs of Microchipping

 

 

                  Microchipping is great advance in technology that is helping more and more animals find their way back to their homes. A small chip the size of a piece of rice, usually implanted between the shoulder blades, microchips can be scanned to by those working in the animal related fields to identify the owner of an animal.  But microchipping your animal isn’t the only key to its safe return, registering the microchip with your contact information and keeping it up to date is imperative.

 

                  Earlier this year a dog, Gary, came into ICAC with a microchip. When the chip was scanned it took the staff quite a few calls to find out the dog was actually from Europe! Fortunately, we had someone on our staff that speaks a little Hungarian! Once we were able to get a hold of a vet clinic in Hungry we found that the animal had been vaccinated there but were unable to trace the ownership any further.

 

                  After traveling so far, it’s a shame that Gary was not able to be reunited with his owner. Fortunately, a rescue was able to take him and Gary now has a new home.

 

                  It’s a great lesson that no matter how far your lost animal travels, a microchip can bring them home to you, as long as you remember to keep your microchip registration up to date! 

 

                                                                                                   -Written by Ashley Hayes, Special Events and Volunteer Liason