Deacon's beacon home

Last December, Deacon went missing from his backyard in rural Virginia. He would occasionally enjoy extended outdoor adventures, so his people weren't too concerned at first. After a few days, Kieth and Pamela Holt became quite worried and alerted the authorities. Weeks went by, and they believed they lost their two year old german shepherd for good.

Then just a few weeks ago, they received a call from an animal control officer in Florida! The officer asked if they were the owners of a dog named Bruno--which was Deacon's first name when they adopted him--when his microchip was registered. Right away, they drove 10 hours and 600 miles to pick up their guy--who was over-joyous at the reunion. Just another reminder of the importance of microchipping! Ask your vet about it on your next visit, and remember to keep your contact info up to date. It could be your dog's beacon home.

Getting un-lost

Microchips are a good idea and they really do the job when it comes to getting your pup un-lost. Linda Lord of Ohio State University decided to study just how effective microchips are in keeping your pet out of the shelter. The good news is that your dog is 2.5 times more likely to find his way home from the shelter.

If you aren't familiar with microchips, this is how they work: During a regular visit at the vet, you can have a microchip implanted into your pup's back. It is as quick as a vaccination, but your person has to do a little homework. It is very important that your person register your microchip with the company. My person did it really quick online--just filled out all my info into a form, and has to remember to update it if we move. If I get lost, she calls the microchip company and they fax my fact sheet and picture to all the shelters in a 25 mile radius. Plus, if I showed up at the shelter they would scan me for my microchip and look up all my contact info. Thats why microchipped pups are more likely to find their way home!

Microchips aren't perfect...some of them might move around in your body, or the detectors don't always work. Catherine Lord's study is helping shelters improve the effectiveness, including making sure they scan multiple times. She also found that out of date contact information was the main reason that a microchipped pet did not find his home. She recommends that the industry make a better connection between chipping and registration--like having vets ask all owners during annual exams if their chip information has been updated.

Is your chip registration up to date?

[Image courtesy of HowStuffWorks]

Texas to Miami, and back again

Sunshine was from adopted from the Texas SPCA, so how did she end up Miami? We will never know. What we do know is that Sunshine was lost 2 months ago, and turned up 1,000 miles away. Some nice people found her looking sick and dirty on a street corner. They brought her home and gave her a bath. They decided to check her for a microchip, and the lucky girl had one! She just arrived back in Texas, and they are planning on having a party for her.

A long way from home

Muffy was lost from her home in Australia nine years ago. Her family had thought she was long gone, until a shelter 1,200 miles away gave them a call. Muffy had been microchipped, so after she was discovered, the shelter folks were able to track down her family. Muffy is recovering in an animal hospital right now, but is getting on a plane soon to be reunited with her family. I bet they will be all wags when she finally makes it home!

Microchips & Tools

Get this--you can use a stud finder to detect microchips in dogs! I bet you are skeptical, I was too. I asked my person to check to see if our stud finder could find my microchip. It worked!

My microchip has anti-migration technology, so it will always be on my back. But if you are looking for your microchip that may have moved...just have your person grab the stud finder!

On a related note, I am really glad my person decided to get me my own microchip last year...that way if I ever get lost, I know I will find my way home. Tell your person to ask the vet about getting your own microchip, it doesn't cost much money, but it buys a lot of peace of mind.