To Chip or No to Chip
Lets Talk About MicroChips
Yesterday, I got a phone call from HomeAgain Pet Recovery. This is the microchip company that I use for all of my puppies.
I had a minute of panic thinking one of the pups was lost. Because that is how microchips work. When a dog is found, and it has a chip, they contact the person who has the chip registered. More on that in a minute…
The chip company makes the information available to veterinarians and animal shelters to help identify pets, and get them home safely.
This is why
- Breeders chip the pups before they leave for their new homes.
- Breeders put their names and contact info on the record.
- Chip number can be added to the AKC registration record for permanent ID of the dog.
- We will keep those records forever!
- Owners should make sure they update their info with the chip company.
- Vets should check periodically to make sure the chip is still in place.
As it turned out, the the call was a request from the owner who was updating the contact information and transferring the authorization to himself. This is the best case for the breeder, the owner, and for your pup.
I will always make every attempt to contact my puppy owners, but…
- I may not have current contact information.
- I am not local.
- I am also not the owner of the dog for medical purposes.
Breeders do this to protect the pups. It is not a “control thing”, or an “ownership thing”. We want you to transfer the chip, and to keep your info updated with the chip company. Even though they are yours now, they were ours first, and are very important to us.
We will always make ourselves available when needed for any of our pups.
You should have your chip number in your puppy packet. If you need the number, contact me. To change registration information go to https://www.homeagain.com/ .
So how does the whole thing work?