THE Amanzimtoti SPCA will be having a half price microchipping special for R120 per animal from March 7 to 11, valid from 08:30 to 12:00.

ALSO READ: SPCA hosts bi-monthly clinic

Toti SPCA manager, Tracey Girling, provided a range of different reasons why owners are turning to microchipping over other conventional forms of identifications such as tags and collars.

These include:

*ID that cannot be tampered with: unlike tags and collars which can be removed should someone wish, such as when stealing an animal, microchips are inserted under the skin. They are about the same size as a grain of rice which also makes it difficult to find the exact location of the chip once inserted.

*Similarly, there is no way of doctoring a microchip ID. While a pet with a collar or tag could have the personal information on it replaced by a cunning thief, the ID number stored on the microchip refers to a database entry which can only be changed with the chip provider after passing rigorous security checks.

Microchipping is a painless procedure: many owners naturally worry that placing a microchip inside their dog’s body will hurt. In fact, the procedure takes seconds and no anesthetic is required. The chip is injected between the shoulder blades, and your dog won’t feel a thing.

*The microchip shouldn’t ever need replacing: there are no working parts, and the chip is inactive until it comes into contact with a scanner, therefore it is completely safe and shouldn’t ever need replacing during your pet’s lifetime.

*Your personal information is safe: we live in an age where identity theft is a real problem. Fortunately, the personal information that you share when you microchip your pet is very safe. No data other than the unique reference number is stored on the chip itself, and this refers to an entry on a database that is managed and secured by the microchip provider. Only authorised parties have access to this information, such as veterinary offices and animal shelters.

*When an animal gets lost or stolen and taken into a vet or shelter the animal will be scanned and you as the owners will be contacted immediately. This is very important because if the pet is injured vets will need to be in contact with the owners regarding treatment.

*This is the best way to prove an animal is yours. Besides taking regular photos of your animals, having your pet microchipped is the best way to prove ownership.

*When immigrating overseas, all countries need your dogs to be microchipped with a microchip that is recognised internationally.

While there are no real disadvantages to dog microchipping, there is something that you should be aware of about the procedure:

*A microchip isn’t a GPS: contrary to what many people believe, a pet microchip isn’t a GPS locator. This means that it can’t be used to track you dog if he/ she goes missing. The chip has a radio frequency identification device (RFID) which enables it to be read by a microchip scanner, but only once your pet has been found.  

For more information, contact the Amanzimtoti SPCA on 031 904 2424. 

DID YOU KNOW?

Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics. To receive news links via WhatsApp or Telegram, send an invite to 061 694 6047

The South Coast Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest – why not join us there? Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.

(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)