Practice news and FAQ's

Micro-chipping: cat reunited eight years on…

A micro-chipped cat that disappeared eight years ago has been reunited with his owner thanks to the special efforts of the RSPCA.

Bigga went missing from his home in High Wycombe at the end of 2002 and his owner searched for him without success.

In March 2010, an RSPCA welfare officer picked up a feral cat in High Wycombe – he was micro-chipped but the details were no longer valid. Undeterred the officers at the RSPCA put up posters and contacted the vet surgery where Bigga had been chipped in the hope of finding a lead. A new contact number was found and the owner and Bigga were reunited.

An unbelievable story, highlighting the importance of having our pets micro-chipped, but also stresses the importance of ensuring the contact details are kept up-to-date. See below for details on microchip identification.

Editorial taken from RSPCA animal life Summer 2010 issue
www.rspca.org.uk



MISSING: have you seen my dog?

Dog theft is a growing problem in the UK – according to the Missing Pets Bureau as many as 38% of all animals reported lost have actually been stolen. To help combat dog theft here are some steps to keep your dog safe:

* think twice before leaving your dog tied up outside a shop whilst you just ‘pop’ in
* never leave your dog alone in the car
* ensure your dog is micro-chipped* (see below for further details), always wears a collar and ID tag
* train your dog to come when called
* take clear photos of you and your dog together enabling you to prove ownership if necessary
* use a reputable company for dog walkers and/or house sitters
* beware of strangers asking too many questions about your dog
* try to vary your times and places for walking
* make sure your garden is secure


* Microchip identification is permanent and if your pet is lost or stolen a microchip gives you the best chance of being reunited.

A microchip is hardly bigger than a grain of rice and having it implanted by the vet is quick and simple. Like a normal injection, it is inserted under the skin at the back of the neck and once there lasts a lifetime. The chip contains a unique code that identifies the pet and the owner. The details including your name, address and contact telephone numbers are held on a central database.

Most vets, animal charities and local authorities have pet microchip readers. If your pet does unfortunately go missing, once found and handed in to the relevant authority, they will be scanned to ‘read’ the unique ID code which will identify them. Your contact details will then be found on the database and then it’s simply a case of contacting you to return your pet to you.

It is important to remember, that when moving house or changing your telephone number, you should inform your vet to ensure that the central database is up-dated so that the correct information is held.

For all responsible pet owners having your pet micro-chipped should be one of the first things that you do. With the added problem of dog theft, having your pet micro-chipped can also be a way of proving ownership.

If the worst did happen and your dog is lost or suspected stolen, it is important to act quickly -
report the loss to your local council’s Dog Warden and those in all other neighbouring local authorities.

Visit places where dog walkers go such as local parks and public places and talk to people, asking them to keep a look out for your dog.

If you believe your pet has been stolen, report it to the police and insist it is recorded as a theft and not a lost animal. It is important to then report the loss/theft to the microchip database (you can do this via your vets); this will ensure that if anyone tries to re-register the chip number, you will immediately be informed.

It’s always a good idea to put up posters in areas local to your home as well as at the vets (not only Hillside, but other local vets in case someone takes your dog in to them for treatment), local parks etc.
Where possible register the loss on as many ‘missing animal’s websites’ as possible as well as contacting local animal shelters and rescue charities and send them
posters to display.