[Marian]

I'm also having him microchipped. I was torn about that, because I've heard various pros and cons and I couldn't decide if it was worth it. But when they reminded me that he would be under when they did it, I thought, what the heck, let's just do it.

Forgive me if there's already a thread about this, but do you guys have your dogs chipped?

 

[AgilityIG]

All of my guys are microchipped - There are a lot of pros.... what do you think the cons are?

Hope Teddy's surgery goes fine!!

 

[Marian]

Thanks!

The cons I had heard were basically that the microchip's usefulness is limited because not all chips can be read by all scanners, and that also by the fact that someone has to turn the dog in to have it checked. If someone intends to keep your dog as their own or, God forbid, use it as a bait dog, they're not likely to have it checked for a microchip.

I have him registered with the AKC's companion animal recovery program, so he wears a tag with their number on it. I figured if he ran away from me, it would be faster and easier for someone to just call the number on the tag.

 

[ArreauStandardPoodle]

Best of luck with the neuter. I would definately have all of my dogs micro-chipped!!

 

[AgilityIG]

Unless you have a really odd brand scanner or chip, it should not be a problem. The two biggest chip companies are AKC and Avid and they can read each other's chips.

If someone really wants to keep your dog, they're going to remove that collar and throw it away. They can't throw away your chip. It's there to stay. You can prove ownership via the chip. Once the collar/tag is gone, it's gone.

 

[spoospirit]

I would microchip too. The dogs have microchips and the kitten I adopted has one too. I don't know the brand that the kitten has but my bet did have a difficult reading it and kind of looked at me like she wasn't sure I knew what I was talking about. But, when they x-rayed him (he had pneumonia) they saw the chip. She reread it three more times before it came up on the scanner.

I wouldn't let that put me off though. As AG said, a collar can be removed but the chip is there to stay.

I do hope all goes well with Teddy's operation today.

 

[Aidan]

I do agree with the limited usefulness of microchips but there are a lot of people out there who do know about them and who will take your dog to be scanned if they're found. Any shelter or even Banfield in Petsmart can scan for a microchip at no charge.

I am also a firm believer in the simple ID tags you can have engraved. Anytime I see a dog running arouind loose I always stop and if the dog will safely come to me I check for an ID tag and call the owner, always. Not everyone always has the time to take every wandering animal into a shelter to check for a chip, and if i have the time i will and have certainly done so... oddly enough i've never found a dog with a microchip but they are getting cheaper and more common now.

I think the low cost vaccinations at Petco can do a microchip for $50 and i remember paying a lot more when Pandora was a pup.

Vega and Dodger came to me already chipped and I haven't had Loki chipped but I plan to once I move to Charlotte.

I definitely love those ID tags, i make sure all of my animals have one on the various collars they wear. Even if animal control picks up your dog it gives them a contact info.

 

[Aidan]

Also i'd like to add that i believe a microchip and/or akc paperwork is the only way to prove in court that a dog belongs to you. Someone can correct me if i'm wrong but i think that's what I have heard.

 

[AgilityIG]

I would imagine if you had adoption papers from a shelter/rescue group, old photos with you and the animal (things of that nature) would go a long ways towards proving ownership - especially if the person that had the animal does NOT have those things.

My dogs do not wear tags, but do all wear a collar with my mobile number embroidered on the collar and are microchipped.

 

[Aidan]

That's a neat idea about having it stitched on the collar. My shepherd Pandora is a ninja with her tags, no clue HOW she does it but tags just don't last for her.. i have tried the O rings and the little S rings, etc... no luck, a tag lasts for about a month or two. I end up keeping her rabies tag on my keychain if i ever need it for some reason.. she's lost two of them and the vet charges for replacements.

The only thing i've heard different about using photos, etc... to prove a dog is yours is someone can always claim they were given the dog and that now the previous owner is changing their minds, etc... i dont know how many judges would believe it, but you never know. When I adopted Dodger from Vega's breeder I had to sign a contract saying I would have all of her Microchip information switched to my name, etc... but all of her AKC papers were signed over to me so i feel pretty confident that if anything happened I could prove she's mine.

 

[AgilityIG]

Yep - I can't stand listening to tags clinking! :biggrin: I keep all my dogs' rabies tags/certificates in my glove box in the van if I should ever need them.

 

[taxtell]

Keep us posted on the little guy.

 

[Aidan]

Have you seen the new ones at some of the Petsmart locations? They're pretty nifty but even more amusing then the tag is watching it getting made... lol

They are a bit more expensive I think between $10-12.. i'll see if I can find a photo of one or ill take a picture of Vega's his name is on the front and then contact info on the back. It doesn't jingle nearly as much as the normal tags, but i also have rabies/microchip tag on there as well so I still hear a jingle now and then.

I also prefer the S hooks on them, and they dont get scratched up either. So far i'm very happy with them. I also hated using those little tokens that would never work.

 

[AgilityIG]

that is totally CUTE!!!!!

 

[Aidan]

You can't really tell in the pic but with the tag comes this sticky plastic coating that goes on either side so it doesnt get scratched up like some of the other engraved tags that can hardly be read after several months.

 

[KPoos]

Yup he is and he wears a little thing on his collar to let someone know exactly which website to go to in order to get his information. From my understanding the chip my vet uses is one that can be read by any scanner so that's why it costs more than others.

 

[thestars]

Good for you and Teddy!
Yes, I do microchip all my dogs and I even microchip the puppies myself.

This is a good link but it has not updated the differences between the 10 and 15 digit codes in awhile. http://rfid.home.att.net/pet-chip.htm
In Europe, the standard pet microchip meets ISO standard 11784/17785 and is a 15 digit microchip operating at 134.2 kHz.

I use the HomeAgain 15-digit chips and I have a universal scanner which is about $300. Chipping is as easy as giving shots.

 

[Spencer]

TQ is microchipped because I got her from the pound and it is a standard thing they do along with spaying/shots.

None of our boys are, however we have been meaning to get them chipped. TheGrey is a registered greyhound and has numbered tatted in his ears, so if someone couldn't find his tags/etc, if they were smart enough, they could look him up in the database.

I want to get the boys chipped, I think that it is just a good idea and a nice back up. TheFiance and I found a dog on Monday, and because of her microchip, she got to go home the very next day. If that isn't a great advertisement for the chips, I don't know what is!

 

[BFF]

I'm going to have Zulee microchipped when she has her spay in January. I'm using the brand that my vet uses which is ResQ. It can be read by the same scanners and you don't have to pay to re-register every year. There is no registration fee either. It also complies with the international standards.

I still figure that some shelters/vets scanner may not be able to read it. I have an engraved tag with Zulee's name and microchip type on the front. On the back, I have my husband and I's cell phone numbers.

I keep her rabies tag in my purse.

I hope Teddy is on his way to a fast recovery. I'm sure he will be glad to have this behind him.

 

[Olie]

Have you seen the new ones at some of the Petsmart locations? They're pretty nifty but even more amusing then the tag is watching it getting made... lol

They are a bit more expensive I think between $10-12.. i'll see if I can find a photo of one or ill take a picture of Vega's his name is on the front and then contact info on the back. It doesn't jingle nearly as much as the normal tags, but i also have rabies/microchip tag on there as well so I still hear a jingle now and then.

I also prefer the S hooks on them, and they dont get scratched up either. So far i'm very happy with them. I also hated using those little tokens that would never work.

I got this one. We are getting them for all of then soon. I really like them much better then the others.