Installing microchips has become vogue for pet identification. The microchip may be implanted during an outpatient visit or while a pet is sedated for a spay/neuter procedure.

The method is simple: A detectable chip is buried beneath the skin in the shoulder area. Then, using a scanner, the chip is identified by the person using the scanner. Once the chip number is identified, the number may be called into a centralized, 24/7 operated databank for pet identification and, in turn, pet relocation.

Some clients of mine have been under the impression the microchip is a transmitter, but it is not. These microchips are passive, and must be identified as the animal is presented before someone with a scanner. This may seem lower-tech than what some pet owners expect in the product, but it is much more advanced than the formerly used tattoos.

Technology, marketing

This technology is encouraging to the efforts of pet relocation, although the system has a few flaws that need to be worked out:

l There are two rival companies, creating a duality of identification systems. The two industry leaders are AVID and HomeAgain. AVID (www.avidid.com) was the original microchip innovator. Home Again became their competition a bit later. The technology is the same. The microchip scanners even recognize each other’s chip as present. In AVID’s case, their scanner will identify the number of both their own and HomeAgain’s chip if one is present. Yet, because of proprietary concerns, Home Again (www.homeagainid.com) will not show the number of an AVID chip, just the abbreviation of their competitor’s name. HomeAgain does, however, link its registration to the American Kennel Club (AKC), allowing for cross-referencing.

l Due to the differences in the chip manufacturers’ marketing strategy, veterinarians are more likely to push either one system or the other. Home Again prefers to market through veterinarians, while AVID supplies both veterinary clinics and many of the animal shelters across America and in many other countries. This creates a barrier in relocation efforts that could be eliminated if the systems were made compatible. On an economic side note, scanners are provided at no charge to shelters through a co-op program while veterinarians must purchase these along with the microchips. At regular prices, scanners are quite expensive, ranging from $200-$400.

l A third point that deserves mentioning is that not all scanners donated (to shelters) or sold (to veterinarians) are being used like they should be. To its credit, AVID asks that shelters and veterinary clinics vow to scan all animals once their scanner is in service, but this concept is only as good as those who will abide by it. Any stray animal admitted in a veterinary hospital or an animal shelter should be scanned in case a microchip can be found. I recently visited a shelter where the scanner was out of use and collecting dust on a shelf. These scanners should be in the hands of animal handling personnel in shelters and veterinary hospitals, and in constant use daily. Continuing education programs should be in place by these companies to aid in scanner usage and public awareness.

Relocation method

The premise of microchipping for pet identification is to provide a pet relocation method. HomeAgain claims that more than 90,000 pets have been reunited with their technology. A spokesman for HomeAgain told me they are responsible for a relocation somewhere every 15 minutes. AVID claims that 6,000 veterinary hospitals and 12,000 shelters have their scanners on board. The more microchips are installed and the more that scanners are used, the more the practice of microchipping will receive worldwide acceptance as a standard practice.

Hopefully, the small, yet growing industry of pet microchipping will wake up to see its potential benefits from both working out its compatibility differences and distribution practices. Still, the technological advance of microchipping holds promise, despite the kinks that need working out.