Microchip reunites S pets with owners A high-tech system utilizing an implanted microchip and a national database is reuniting lost dogs and cats with their owners while helping to reduce overcrowding in animal shelters. ‘The system comes in many forms, One of the most popular ‘goes by the name of “HomeAgain” and is backed by pharmaceutical company Schering-Plough and the American Kennel Club's Companion Animal Recovery pro- gram. ‘The “HomeAgain” system is cred- ited with recovering 10,000 animals in the past two years. HOW THIS THING WORKS. ‘A microchip about the size of a grain of rice is injected under the skin between the pet’s shoulder Dlades in much the same way a rou- given. “The chip, which cannot be seen after implantation, is coded with a unique, permanent identification ‘number that can be read by a hand- held scanner’ used by a growing number of shelters and veterinari- ans, Ifa pet becomes lost, its identif- cation number is called into a cen- tral database at the AKC’s Companion Animal Recovery pro: ‘gram, which immediately contacts the owner. ‘The procedure costs the owner approximately $25 to $55. Lifetime enrollment in the AKC recovery program may be addition- al and generally costs $12.50. If a dog in enrolled through an ANCeponsored cn the cot is “Assistance dogs,” dogs that assist the handicapped, are enrolled for free. sald Day Roetng.veleroar ey.” said Dawn, veterinari- an at Ridgefield Animal Hospital Thibodaux. “But a collar and ID tag makes it astronomically easier to find a pet's ‘owner, since scanners are more prevalent in big cities,” “HomeAgain” is marketed by ‘Schering-Plough Animal Health Corp. and is used for dogs and cats. ‘The AKC program that backs Petey fs with techricin Keli Swaney as veterinarian Joh Detchman implants ech microchip between shoulder ides for permanant enfeaion “HomeAgain” maintains a 24-hour, tolkfree number, (600) 252-7894, and an email address, found@ake.org. Found pets can be reported at any time. To date, the AKC has enrolled ‘more than 250,000 pets in its recov ery program. Approximately 7,000 veterinari- ans and 6,000 animal shelters around the nation have “HomeAgain” scanners. ‘Two types of pet microchips are sold on the market. ‘The AKC recovery program accepts pets chipped with either type as well as pets that are tattooed with an identification number. ‘These tattoos usually contain the ‘owner's Social Security number and are placed on the inside of the thigh or on the ear. “The microchip is clearly better than the tattoo because a tattoo can become hard to read over time,’ said Koetting. ‘THE MICROCHIP IN ACTION... Jay Belkofer, a computer pro- grammer from Yura, Ariz, says his two rottweilers ~ 2yearold Judy and &month-old Bruno ~ managed to pop the lock on a new gate he stalled in the yard. While Belkofer searched. the neighborhood, someone found the dogs, saw the “Homegain” tag and called the tolhfree number. Judy and Bruno were home with- in an hour of the call. “The microchip system is superior to tattooing or collar tags, said Lionel de la Houssaye, veteri- narian from Houma. “A collar can come off, a tattoo can be removed ... the only way a chip will disappear is if it is taken out, “A potential pet thief would have tohave the pet scanned to know the chip is there.” Many local veterinarians and ani- mal shelters now have chip scan- ners in their offices. “We don't have a real big request. for microchips,” said de la TAS te bs tt pre et 0 “It may be that people just don't ‘know about it. But i's a good way to keep from losing a pet since scan- ners are now more prevalent in the area,