UTICA, Mich., Dec. 23, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Macomb Veterinary Associates in Utica, MI is raising awareness about the importance of microchipping pets. According to Utica veterinarian Dr. Vernon Harp, the majority of lost pets that enter an animal shelter are never reunited with their owners, even if their owners are actively searching for them. Microchipping is a painless, safe, high-tech identification system that implants a tiny coded microchip into a pet. An animal hospital or shelter can then scan the chip for the code. After logging into a secure database, the vet can match this code to the pet's rightful owner and facilitate a reunion.
Utica veterinarian Dr. Vernon Harp is encouraging pet owners to microchip their pets. According to Dr. Harp, 90 percent of lost dogs and cats are never reunited with their owners due to lost or outdated tags and a lack of microchipping.
"There's nothing worse than losing a beloved family pet," said Dr. Harp. "Unfortunately, without microchipping, if a pet is lost, it can be extremely difficult to find and locate the pet. A microchipped pet is far more likely to be returned."
The American Humane Society estimates that 10 million dogs or cats are lost or stolen in the United States each year. Only 22 percent of lost dogs that enter an animal shelter are reunited with their owners. However, the return rate for microchipped dogs is much higher; 52 percent of microchipped dogs are reunited with their owners. Less than 2 percent of cats entering shelters are reunited with their owners. Microchipping dramatically increases the chances for reunion. 38 percent of microchipped cats are reunited with their owners.
"These statistics would be even higher if pet owners updated their contact information when they move," Utica veterinarian Dr. Janine Tryban. "Pet owners can securely login to the microchip database online and update addresses and phone numbers in just minutes."
A microchip is a thin device approximately the same size as a grain of rice. Each chip is encoded a unique serial number. Implantation of the chip goes just under the pet's skin, typically beneath the shoulder blades. The chip is kept securely in place thanks to anti-migration technology.
If a lost pet is taken to a veterinarian or animal shelter, the pet is scanned for its microchip code. This code is then entered into a secure database and matched with the owners' contact information. Since the microchip only contains a unique ID number, a pet owner's information remains safe.
"Wherever a lost pet is found, an animal hospital can securely scan the microchip and contact the owners," said the Utica veterinarians.
Macomb Veterinary Associates provides microchipping in addition to other wellness care services at their animal hospital. The location services Utica, Shelby Township and Sterling Heights pets.