Every pet owner's worst nightmare is the thought of their pet going missing. Whether it's a curious cat slipping out an open door or a playful pup bolting during a walk, the fear and anxiety of not knowing where they are can be overwhelming. Fortunately, technology has provided a solution in the form of microchipping. This tiny device, about the size of a grain of rice, has revolutionized the way we reunite lost pets with their owners. Microchipping is an affordable, quick procedure that has a powerful proven track record of reuniting pets with their families.
Research has demonstrated that between 15 and 25% of dogs and cats will be lost in their lifetime. Although dogs are much more likely to be lost, including more than once, cats have a lower rate of return to their homes. Dogs tend to have a higher incidence of having ID tags and microchips, while cats are much less likely to have a means for identification available. Having an easy way for neighbors, town officials, and shelters to identify your pet makes the likelihood of reunification much higher.
Microchipping is an easy, affordable way to increase the chances of your pet coming home safely. A microchip is a small implant inserted under the skin of your pet, typically between the shoulder blades. Each chip contains a unique identification number that can be scanned by a veterinarian, animal shelter, animal control officer, and many local police stations using a microchip scanner. This number is linked to the owner's contact information in a pet recovery database. Unlike collars and tags, which can fall off or be removed, a microchip provides a permanent form of identification that brings pets home.
The statistics speak volumes about the effectiveness of microchipping in reuniting lost pets with their owners. A study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) found that dogs with microchips were more than twice as likely to be reunited with their owners compared to dogs without microchips. For cats, the return-to-owner rate was significantly higher, with microchipped cats being over 20 times more likely to find their way back home. In another report, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) found that approximately 52% of lost dogs and 38% of lost cats with microchips were reunited with their owners, compared to only 22% of dogs and 2% of cats without microchips.
A survey conducted by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) found that out of over 7,700 stray animals brought into shelters, the return-to-owner rate for microchipped dogs was 52.2%, whereas for non-microchipped dogs, it was only 21.9%. Similarly, for microchipped cats, the return-to-owner rate was 38.5%, compared to just 1.8% for non-microchipped cats. These statistics underscore the importance of microchipping as a reliable and effective means of pet identification.
Losing a pet is a distressing experience for any pet owner, but with microchipping, there is hope for a happy reunion. The statistics clearly demonstrate that microchipped pets have a significantly higher chance of being reunited with their owners compared to those without microchips. May is Chip Your Pet Month and in honor of this awareness-raising campaign, Longevity Veterinary Center is offering 50% off microchipping with any scheduled physical exam. The microchipping is easy and affordable. Contact us at (973) 606-1101 to schedule your exam and microchipping today!