The importance of having your pet microchipped
NSPCA explains what a microchip is and why you should get one for your pets.
A microchip implant is an identifying integrated circuit placed under the skin of an animal.
The chip, about the size of a large grain of rice, uses passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and is also known as a PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) tag.
It is important to note that microchips are not tracking devices.
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The NSPCA answered three common questions on microchips:
1. How is it implanted?
Each microchip is individually packaged in a sterile syringe.
This is then a simple injection at the inoculation site (for dogs and cats) between the shoulder blades, by a veterinarian or a trained person.
2. How does it help you find your lost pet?
Most lost animals are taken to a vet or the SPCA.
The animal is scanned for a microchip, and the Identipet Database is contacted.
Information (telephone and cellphone numbers, address and other owner details) are provided, and the owners are informed of their pets’ whereabouts.
“Data shows that the average time it takes to re-home a lost pet, that has been microchipped, is two hours, compared to several days for an unidentified animal,” said the NSPCA.
3. What are the costs?
The microchip and its insertion by a vet or SPCA can cost between R350 – R450 per animal.
For more information or assistance visit www.identipet.com.
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