Microchips are generally implanted under the skin over the shoulder blades in dogs and cats. Each one contains an identification number unique to that animal; every microchip sold is automatically registered (to the vet who purchases it) in PETtrac, AVID's national recovery data base, according to Metzner.
She says private veterinary clinics on average charge from $60 to $100, and shelters from $20 to $30 (and often much less) to implant a microchip and register a pet for its lifetime. The chip is encapsulated in biocompatible glass (the type used in pacemakers, stents and other medical devices) and has been tested to last for at least 75 years, according to Metzner, who adds that AVID has sold more than 25 million microchips. Among other brands distributed in the U.S.: resQ, HomeAgain and 24PetWatch.
Some studies in the 1990s found that tumors formed in mice and rats in tissue around where the microchips were placed. But Metzner said further testing has produced no evidence of a link between cancer risk and the devices, which are only activated when scanned—and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2004 found the process safe enough to be used in animals and humans.
AVID, when contacted by Sonoma County Animal Care and Control, traced the device in George to Northtown Animal Hospital in Santa Rosa. Walburg says they were lucky their vet had their number, which had been changed since the chip was implanted and registered. In some cases, there is a more direct relationship with pet owners, who can change chip ID registration contact info online.
"Our sole purpose is to bring animals home. So it's a wonderful feeling to know that the system works," Metzner says about George's long-awaited homecoming. "It's a miracle. We get over 1,000 calls a day of people finding pets and reuniting them with families."
She says this is one of—if not the—longest period between a pet's loss and recovery ever recorded. Among other success stories: a cat that had been missing from Los Angeles for a decade, found in Texas several years ago, and a dog missing from Panama, Fla., who was found six years later in Ohio.
"There's no way this reunion after 13 and a half years would have happened without the microchip," Walburg stresses, urging all pet owners to chip their charges and anyone who finds a stray to take it to the nearest shelter or animal hospital to have it scanned for one. He also believes that vets should routinely scan their animal patients to make sure the humans bringing them in are their rightful owners, noting that they might have found George sooner had that been done.
"It's a very reasonable amount of money for something that potentially can help bring your pets home if they lose their collar. But even if your pet is micro-chipped, it's still important to have a visible collar and tag on that animal with the owner's name on it to get it home immediately," says Stephanie Shain, director of outreach at The Humane Society of the United States in Washington, D.C.
"It's pretty amazing," she adds about the George's homecoming. "If you're on the fence of whether you should or shouldn't get [a microchip], this would probably put a lot of people in the 'yes' column who weren't there before."
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18 Comments
Add CommentCan't type... got tears in my eyes
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisCheck out rainbowbridge.com and you will see how much people love their pets. If it does not make you cry then you have no heart.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisFrankiez? You sound like someone who for the sake of "national security" is all right with the NSA/Raptor program reading your email, postal mail, monitoring credit card purchases and your travel because you "have nothing to hide" but thinks gun registration is out of the question because the government would know too much about you ;) .... another right wing hypocrite disguised as a human.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOn a serious note, it is a 'best practice' to scan lost pets and very important to their owners. Years ago I found a cat and was not encouraged to do this by the local SPCA. 'Found cat' report and description didn't turn up an owner. 3 years later we identified the original owner when the new chip we had just inserted was scanned for proper functioning,, only to reveal an original chip which, ironically, had been implanted by the same SPCA when my cat was found as a kitten. The situation created was difficult and avoidable. Popular stories like this will hopefully create awareness of the need to do this when a lost pet is found. In my area, the SPCA now routinely asks that found pets be brought to the shelter specifically for the purpose of scanning.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHi, this is Frank,
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisFirst Lisa has done the best job in covering the totality of this story. Sure there is the 'cat found alive and returned after 13 years angle which *everyone* did because it was a feel good thump at the end of the news. That was not the bigger part of things.
The more enduring aspects of the story, which still are:
1) If you have a pet, get a chip implant... just in case. If you find an animal get it scanned to see if there is a Primary Companion out there.
2) If you are a vet, scan all animals presented to for care *and* validate the person presenting them for is the Primary Companion contact *or* relinquished the relationship to the person who brought the animal to you.
3) If you find a stray....PLEASE have it scanned before assuming it doesn't belong to anyone!!!
This reunion after 13 1/2 years is only possible because of the Micro chip implant... in essence the invisible collar with the ID tag.
-ALSO-
There is a problem with the way the veterinarian community behaves. Remember George was treated over time by 4 vet according to the woman who had him. None of those vets scanned him but everyone of them sells the chip and implantation services for $40 to $90. The pitch they make to facilitate the sale is 'your pet will be scanned by vets and shelters so they can be reunited with you'.
How can the vets take the money and make the explicit promise the community does scan animals when they don't scan them at the treatment presentation side, which would effect the reunification?
I asked this of the last vet she took George to and the answer was fairly close to, "I'm pleased when anyone presents an animal for care. I have somebody who is acting responsibly that is looking out for the animal at that moment and is willing to pay for my services, why would I upset that relationship, by trying to find someone that may not be as interested or is perhaps less willing have the animal treated or pay for my services?"
In the broader world there is word used to describe services rendered for a fee paid and not rendering them. Veterinarians have got to become better at this.
I plan to become more of an expert on animal based micro ID chips and their use. I have the phone number of the Redwood Empire Veterinary Medical Association (the organization all vets in my area collect under) and want to speak at their meeting and I know there is a California Veterinary Medical Association that I will try to speak at it too.
Frank,
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisYou are right on all of this. We had the same experience with vets who failed to scan my cat despite my telling them clearly that he was a found cat and that I was sure he had been someone's pet previously. In fact, he had been someone else's pet for the first 6 years of his life (and ours for the last 6 based on the wonderful generosity of the previous owners). But it shouldn't have come to this.
The public needs to be aware enough to demand this and your story helps. Good luck with George!!
I was very touched by the story of George. We are living in Portugal coming from Flanders in Belgium. We brought our two cats over here and had 2 stray dogs adopted. The dog were just skin over bones and very shy. A year later they recovered entirely and they and we had 13 years of nice living together. It is beautifull to see how these animals are thankfull for what you are doing for them, for the food and the affection. Never tell me again that they have only an instinct, there is definitely something more in their little heads.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt's a pity but all are friends left us because their lifespans are so much shorter than ours. I can imagine the joy of the owners of George when they
got him back. I'm whishing George and his owners all the best
Louis
Read your story on line at Scientific American; glad you got George back...I've had similar pet returns, but none so lengthy & dramatic. Question: Walburg is a rare name, and one that's near in my family tree. My Walburgs came out of southern Sweden, passed thru N.Dakota & Iowa. Sound familiar in any way?? xxxraydon@yahoo.com
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHey frankiez76 - Sounds like YOU need to be chipped! This is not about humans or "Big Brother", but a heart warming story of a pet long lost come home. Maybe its time to remove all the aluminum foil from your ceiling and walls - not everyone cares what you are doing.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGreat story about George. I am happy for you.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisRegards from 'Down-under', Don
Great story about George. I am very happy for you.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisRegards from 'down-under', Don
its an interesting article that shows how important is a chip and an example of the advanced technology aplication
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisthe article is an example of aplication of new technology can be aplicated to solve problems.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe objetive of the technology is to help people to find solutions.
Frank,
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI am happy to hear you have George back! I agree all vets should scan first time pets. I am a vet tech, and all regular vet offices I have worked at scanned new pets (I now work at an emergency clinic, we only scan strays).
I am upset that 4 vets did not scan him.
Since hurricanes Katrina/Rita, all veterinarians in the Greater New Orleans area (probably all in Louisiana) now require a chip in EVERY animal they treat. I was told that it's the law, and a direct result of the heart-rending animal-owner separations that happened here in 2005. (Although, frankly, I cannot imagine evacuating without taking my cat. If a hurricane seems dangerous enough for me to leave, I'm not leaving without my furry friend!)
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI like to say Im glad George made it home to say his goodbyes to his owners ,they sound like great people.I have folled this story of george ,and
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIM sad to see he died this monday 12-08-08, will miss you GEORGE.
I have followed George's story for a month and IM sorry to hear he died last monday 12-08-08,will miss you .
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAn amazing story that is heartfelt. Over the years I have found many lost cats but could not reunite them with their owners. There was no microchip ID or collar with tag. This story brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing
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