microchips inside your pets?

strawberryjulius · Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 11:32 am Post subject: microchips inside your pets?

In the dependent kitty thread, pudding brought up the subject of pet microchips. would any of you do this to your pet? what are your thoughts on these things?
maybe it's safer, but it seems too futuristic to me.
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tigrrrl · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 51 Location: Deep South

One of my dogs is microchipped. I've heard way too many horror stories of pets getting loose and being put down by animal control because their owners didn't find them before the mandatory holding period was up. Their collars aren't permanently attached, and a loose dog without ID is just another stray.

kindarana · Joined: 22 Aug 2004 Posts: 767 Location: down by the bay

Not voting, because it would depend on the animal to me - indoor cats, no, outdoor dogs that never run away, no, but one like our neighbor's dog which is always lost, sure!

lizzymahoney · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 804

During our hurricanes, I fretted about not getting it done years ago. Cats and dogs have collars and ID, but in the aftermath of big storms, so many are lost from even the most secure homes. They are terrified of the noise and could run out an open door into the maelstrom so easily.

But now it's back to blue skies and I don't see the need for it anymore. Maybe next summer before 'cane season.

manukenkun · Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Posts: 203 Location: Bristol

My cat was microchipped- it's one of the deals when you get them from the cats and dogs home- they have to be neutered and chipped- it's a really tiny thing that just goes in under the skin. When my cat went missing I was glad it had a chip- as it turns out he was hit by a train and it would have made no difference, but if he's been hit by a car and taken to a vet I would have known about it right away.
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midnightandlulu · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 43 Location: northern california

I have one cat with and one without. both are indoor only cats.

only reason being that one was homeless and we just took her in and never really thought about it. but the other we adopted from an animal shelter, and while I was filling out all the paperwork and suff, they were like, 'oh, we just gotta microchip her real quick', didn't even really ask me or anything. and I didn't really know how I felt about it.

but my discomfort with the idea of it, being like, yeah, what's next, microchipping kids? too creepy and big brother-y, is far outweighed by the fact that I might be more able to find her if she gets out. she falls off the balcony once in a while and she refuses to wear a collar and tag, and I've lost a cat in the past, and I never want that to happen again.

so yeah, I wish it wasn't necessary, but for some cats it seems like a good idea.

*eta. I'm sorry about your cat, manukenkun. that's awful.

strawberryjulius · Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 10:58 pm Post subject:

wow these have all changed my opinion! I just thought it was WAY too (like rivercat said) big brothery...but then I started thinking on the safer side of it. I have 4 cats (1 indoor, 2 indoor/outdoor, and 1 who just eats inside and sleeps in the garage. the rest of the time she is outside sunbathing!) but Cleo, the outside one, is very wandering. I've always just used a collar with a bell and figured if someone found her, they would let her be because she has a collar which = owner. but what if her collar comes off? I would be so sad to lose my baby!
NEXT QUESTION: how much do these microchips cost? i wish my humane society put the chips in the cats, but they don't offer that option at all here!
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midnightandlulu · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 43 Location: northern california

hmmm...I don't know, I don't think it's too much though.

it was included in the shelter's adoption fee of $50. but I'm thinking it would be more like $20 if you take 'em to the vet. You'd have to call around.
I think it's literally like a quick injection in the scruff of their neck. and they give you a corresponding number. I think the vet keeps a copy too.

yay for safe kitties. I should look into getting my other done, just in case.

JediEmpressMel · Joined: 28 May 2004 Posts: 374

I'd put them in my animals.
I don't care if they were "indoor only" or not, you never know if the cats are going to escape out the front door someday, and better safe than sorry.
That's like saying they don't need collars if they're indoor only...all cats need collars and tags just to be safe. Then at least if they do get out somehow, they have ID on them, and aren't just another stray cat that gets put to sleep.

I think they're a great invention.

manukenkun · Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Posts: 203 Location: Bristol

I don't know how much they cost to get done at a vet's but mine was included in the 'adoption' fee- the vet keeps the number and it's recorded with a central company who have your details and can call you up if the animal is found. It's such a tiny thing you can't feel it at all...and on the subject of getting kids chipped I did see something about that somewhere- probably after a recent high profile case of abduction...wish i could remember...must go google...no! Must go craft!

google won out: http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/09/03/uk.i
mplant/ this is what I was thinking of.

and thanks for the comment about my cat by the way- it was horrible and I still really really miss him, but people have been very sweet to me
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xuli · Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2004 11:23 am Post subject:

I haven't microchipped my cat yet, but next time I move I'm going to do it.

I think it's a really good idea, and I should probably do it sooner, but he's indoors only (and terrified of going outside) and I don't feel a sense of emergency about it yet. However, the last time I moved, I was *so* terrified he would run away or sneak out or get lost because moving is extremely stressful for cats, and moving is the number one cause of indoor kitties escaping and getting lost.
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strawberryjulius · Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2004 2:08 pm Post subject:

How crazy is this? Last night my friend called me, sounding really distressed and freaking out. She told me her grandmother's cat (Charlie) ran away. (background info: we all live in Pensacola, Fl, which was just devastated by hurricane ivan, a category 4 hurricane. My friend and her grandparents lived on the beach, and were able to see their house which turned out to be gone. there's nothing left, but before they evacuated into the city, they dropped Charlie at a vet's office that was boarding animals for the storm.) After they picked Charlie up, they bought a cat-harness because they had planned on getting an RV to replace their home, with insurance money. They wanted Charlie to get used to the harness, so when they get the RV, he will be able to go outside and do his business without running away. They had him in a family member's screened in porch during the night with his harness on (don't worry, there was slack in the leash so he could move around!) and as it turned out, there was a tiny hole in the screens and he managed to get out of his harness and get out of that tiny hole!
Charlie does not have a microchip OR a collar, and he has never been in this neighborhood before this week. We put food out, and a few articles of clothing so he might be able to follow the scent. As sad as it is..what a coincidence!! Now I am completely convinced I need my kitties chipped asap.
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lemonfish · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 34

I feel like some people think this a GPS for animals. It isn't tracking your animal 24/7. What happens if it someone brings in the pet they can read the chip and find the contact info.

xuli · Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2004 6:03 pm Post subject:

midnightandlulu · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 43 Location: northern california

GPS WOULD be kinda cool!

I had this one cat, now living at my mom's house, (who some of you may remember, 'puppycat', found in a headshop after being abused and spraypainted!) he's just a wild little boy, disappears for like 5 days at a stretch. I wonder where he goes! I imagine all these adventures he must go on with his kittyfriends, down to the creek and who knows where else. I'd love to strap a tiny little camera on him and find out!