Dog and cat microchipping has become a practical and successful method of identifying a missing pet. Every pet owner should consider it.
One in three pets go missing during its lifetime and without proper identification, 90 per cent never returns home.
A microchip for dogs and cats gives the best protection with a permanent ID that neither can be removed nor become impossible to read. Dog and cat microchipping is a simple procedure. A veterinarian simply injects a microchip for pets, about the size of a grain of rice, beneath the surface of your pet’s skin between the shoulder blades.
The process is similar to a routine inoculation, takes only a few seconds, and your pet will not react any more than it would to a vaccination.
There is no pain and no anaesthetic is required. An Identipet microchip itself has no internal energy source, so it will last your pet’s lifetime. The microchip is not a tracking device, as there is no power source that can keep the device going. There is no such technology available yet.
It is read by passing a microchip scanner over the pet’s shoulder blades. The scanner emits a low radio frequency that provides the power necessary to transmit the microchip’s unique cat or dog ID code and positively identify the pet.
If your pet gets lost and is taken to an animal shelter or vet, they will scan the microchip to read its unique ID code.
This is the number used by Identipet to identify the pet and retrieve your contact information, and reunite you with your pet. Identipet microchips are the only ones used and endorsed by the National Council of SPCAs.
To get your pet microchipped contact your local SPCA on 011 412 3114 or 083 654 8195.
