Our mission: To increase the number of pets with identification so that when they are lost or stolen, they may be reunited with their owners. We would like to bring awareness to the public about the importance of microchipping and/or tattooing pets.
Based on SPCA statistics, less than 2% of cats and only 15-20% of dogs with no form of identification are reunited with their owners. Nearly 95% of animals with identification are returned to their pet parents.
Many municipalities, including Surrey, have passed bylaws requiring cats and dogs to be permanently identified. These bylaws were passed in the hopes of decreasing numbers of stray pets being euthanized each year. Unfortunately, most stray pets that are picked up by animal control or dropped off at animal shelters were neither properly kept indoors, nor provided with identification.
Placing a microchip is a simple, effective procedure that can be performed on an animal as early as eight weeks of age. Microchips do not require sedation to be placed in an animal and the insertion process is safe and quick. The microchip itself is about the size of a grain of rice and is housed in a glass-like material; this material is not in danger of causing a reaction from the animal’s body nor will it rust or break. The microchip is permanent which means it will not require replacing, nor will it require a battery and/or maintenance. The microchip is placed underneath the skin between the shoulder blades using a special needle.
Each microchip is differentiated with a number; using a special scanner, veterinary hospitals and shelters will be able to retrieve this individual number. Once the microchip number is retrieved, contacting the national registry will allow your contact information to be accessed, prompting the quick return of your lost friend. If you are not comfortable with your contact information on the registry you may opt to have your veterinary hospital contacted who will then contact you. These microchips are not only traceable in BC but also across North America as well as in Mexico and Europe. They are truly an invaluable tool in the return of a lost pet. Keep in mind that microchips are not Global Positioning Systems (GPS) but are instead more akin to a barcode.
If microchipping your pet does not seem like an ideal method of identification, you may opt for a tattoo to be placed in your pet’s right ear. Tattooing must be performed under anaesthetic and is therefore usually completed at the time of spaying/neutering. If your pet will not be coming in for a surgery or any procedure requiring an anaesthetic, implanting a microchip will be a safer, more economical choice.
