Microchip

[Syrusvkato]

Does anyone have their animal microchipped for ID? If so what company did you use, and at what cost...Any problems?
To me it sounds like a great idea, I remember when the technology was first introduced, but now the chip is smaller than a grain of rice!? My boy is not only a member of my family (just him and me actually! http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/tongue.gif )he was a significant investment when I bought him at 10 weeks ($1200) and has been a daily investment ever since (BB Working Dog Diet, Innova puppy before that, Training, Veterinarian, TIME) I think it appropriate that I take some precautions against theft (late bloomer, 1yr 5 months, cannot get enough of different people, something that I know will change as he grows) and loss. I was under the impression that tatooing was becoming obsolete, could you please give me some advice???? http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/eek.gif

Justin

[This message has been edited by Syrusvkato (edited November 12, 2000).]

[Ndlou]

I had my vet do it at a cost of $39.00. I live in New Orleans and most of the vets around here are doing it.

[Carol Burke]

I currently have my dogs tattooed and I have been thinking that I should also microchip. If I do decide to microchip I will continue to tattoo as my fear is that if my dog were picked up how do I know he will be scanned for the microchip? A tattoo is easily able to be seen and gives notice that this dog does belong to someone who cared enough to tattoo.

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Carol
Darrlburg Rottweilers

[laurlitt]

We have our dogs tattooed but have considered the microchip too. I don't think local pounds and shelters necessarily look for a tattoo (which may be hard to find on a dog with overgrown fur) but they do have chip readers. (The LA shelters are now microchipping all dogs that are adopted.) However if a person on the street finds your dog a microchip will do no good, but a tattoo might. So it seems like both would be great. Of course does a person on the street know what to do if they see a tattoo number????

If I could only do one I would get the microchip.

Best thing to do, don't ever let your dog(s) out of your sight... http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif

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Laurie & Blaise
(Los Angeles)

[Ramon]

I plan to have my puppy microchipped, and I've heard that the local shelters in my area scan for them on any animal that comes in.
I've heard some terrible stories about what dog thieves do when they find a tatoo, and it's not pretty. For instance, if the tatoo is on the ear, they'll cut off the ear. At least the microchip is more conspicuous.

[LisaS]

Originally posted by laurlitt:
Of course does a person on the street know what to do if they see a tattoo number????

I wouldn't - how many different places are there that "register" tattooed animals - and is there an indication within the tattoo to indicate who to contact? E.G. if I found A12345670-01 on the street - is it obvious who to contact next? Who is the registry - AKC, Breed Clubs ? Pleading ignorance here ...

[marianne]

We have used both methods of Id for our dogs.I prefer the microchip.With a tattoo you have to shave the fur to read it.Our vet tattoo's on the inside thigh.
The microchip is registered thru the chip manufactor. Anyway ours is. We use the Avid friend chip.The cost was under $50.00 for the implant and registration.
One word of caution, don't keep the "tag" on your dogs collar. Here again,some will cut out the chip if they know it's there.
The only real drawback is not all chips are universally read.

[walter frazier]

I had my male micro chipped at my vet cost was 53.50 with AKC REGISTRATION had no problems,I'm also thinking about having him dna'd after I get his ofa results back.I think all of these things will make it better for everyone who owns a dog and cares about the dog and the breed.

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[Judi W]

Before microchipping was available, I always had my dogs tatooed. This done while knowing full well that it was not very likely any stranger was going to be able to put one of my adult Rottweilers on its back in order to read the thing. I did it with the idea, that I at least would be able to prove ownership should it ever be contested. Everyone is chipped now. I have never had a dog get lose but permanent identification is always a good idea and registries now require it if they are going to pass the information on to AKC for pedigree inclusion.

[poohbearsmom]

Hi there. I have Poohbear microchipped with the Avid chip. I will be getting Deiter chipped on his next visit to the vet. I will also have both dogs tatooed with their AKC #'s.

The only drawback to the micro-chipping is that if a shelter does have a microchip (reading) machine, because of the cost of the machine, it is likely that they only possess a machine from one company, so it is a crapshoot on whether they can read the chip or not.

I feel that the more ways I can identify my dogs, the better off we all are should they end up separated from us. I have noted all physical identifications (i.e. pooh has 5 nipples on one side/7 on the other)as well.

The cost 2yrs ago for Pooh's microchip was $25 - seems it's risen since then.

Elisabeth

[Judi W]

The scanners now are universal and can read all chips. It is my understanding that the chip manufacturers make these available at no cost. (They make their profit on the sale of the chips, not the scanners)

[laurlitt]

Originally posted by LisaS:
Who is the registry - AKC, Breed Clubs ? Pleading ignorance here ...

I was ignorant for awhile myself. I had my dog tattooed but never registered him. Also like Judi W said, I don't know how likely it would be to get a male dog on his back, although Blaise would if tempted w/ a belly scratch!

There are more than one registries in the country, but I believe the oldest and largest is National Dog Registry (NDR) and their number is 1-800-NDR-DOGS, probably a good number to take down in case you ever find a tattooed dog! Their website is http://www.natldogregistry.com/ if anyone wants to check it out.

I will probably start chipping all my dogs in the future.


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Laurie & Blaise
(Los Angeles)