Microchipping your pets...

[Saft]

Hmmm...bemused... I just logged in to another forum that I go to and saw one of the posters say that they have a phobia about microchips...and how they disagree with them because it makes (and I quote) ''the animals contaminated''.  Apparently the microchip is a ''virus'' and also ''looks ugly''.  Excuse me whilst I face palm /face palm....

Microchips are harmless.  I rather Mozart be microchipped than worrying completely (not that I wouldn't worry) if he ever got lost.  The microchip from what I remember from my time volunteering at the SPCA is just inserted under the skin.  It doesn't hurt them at all and they don't even notice it.  Mozart for example doesn't notice his.  They are very small, not ugly....and it's not infecting them.  It's protecting them from various sorts of scenarios. For example did you know that when a cat/dog is brought to the SPCA/RSPCA/ASPCA that if a cat is brought in without collar or microchip they are immediately put up for adoption within 7 days?  

So this got me thinking, do you believe microchipping is a good thing or a bad thing?  

[DarkHououmon]

I think the microchips are a good idea. Cheyenne has one himself, although he had one before we even got him. Microchips are good for locating lost pets. It's already helped a woman find out what happened to her cat that traveled 1,000+ miles away from home. Here's a video of it: http://video.yahoo.com/watch/7341845/19190402

That chip saved that cat's life. He was about to be euthanized until someone found out he had a microchip.

[Noname]

My stepmother has a microchipped cat who was originally to be named microchip, but he's such a silly cat, they decided just to name him "Chip." Chipping pets like that is probably a good idea, but not humans.

[Kor]

Some would say some kids need that and some older folks as well.

[Noname]

That raises all sorts of issues. Chipping kids, elders, and prisoners is rather... Orwellian. Human beings, unlike pets, have some concept of themselves and of issues like dignity and privacy. We don't like being put on leashes either, but dogs don't mind. I guess what I'm saying is that cats and dogs lack the capacity to complain about having a chip put into them, but humans do.

[Alex]

Yeah, it's probably a good idea. But I have way too many pets to put a chip in all of them. But if it saved a cats life, then I'm on board.

[Noname]

I think they can chip them when they are kittens/puppies. It doesn't hurt, so I'm told.

[MrDrake]

I would say no on my behalf.  I wouldn't end up putting a chip into my cat at all, cause for starters, I can't afford it and two, it just feels like a waste of time to do such a thing, so no, I wont put a chip into my cat, she doesn't need it.

[Noname]

I suppose it is useful, but unless it is going to be paid for by the government or an animal-care organization, I don't think it ought to be mandatory. Mind you, the cost could just be added to that of the animal if new cats and dogs come with a chip inserted into them.

[Amaranthine]

Kind of depends on the situation.

I have a family members who said their dog got an infection from the chip and that pretty much rounded up the deal for me. I acknowledge my youngest is microchipped because of where I got him from, and if he ran off I could have his number of it and what I wonder if in the not too distant future what's going to happen to these animals when they get older. Until then, my little guy seems to be happy and healthy at the moment.

As far as the Orwellian thing with human beings, well isn't that the same thing with animals? They are property and pretty owned by the government or some other groups?

So to each his own on this one. I personally would not want my animal to be microchipped, because...I want freedom, so why not give feedom to the animal?

[Petrie.]

I think chips might be excessive.  Maybe collars, bracelets (for humans) and things like that allow for the creature to be tracked when necessary, but still allow to be freed from searching when they choose to.  Consider for the fact, most cell phones have GPS built into them...as long as your phone remains on, you can be found if you have it with you.  You're making that choice to be tracked.  Turn your phone off if you don't.

I think even the situations I mentioned above are good for Alzheimer's patients.  My grandpa recently had the keys taken away from him (meaning he's no longer able to drive himself places)  when he got lost and could no longer remember where he was in familiar areas.  Its pretty scary to not know where they are, and likewise for them not to know where they are.  In these instances, GPS wristbands or things like this are stress-savers for both parties.

[Saft]

I wasn't suggesting to chip humans.....I don't get where that came up.  

As for chipping pets, there are certain circumstances when they are done:

In the SPCA/ASPCA/RSPCA or whatever the animal shelter is called in your area, once you adopt your pet they do it for you for free.  And it's easy to put in.

In vet clinics it's nominial fees.

N.B.

Also by collars, they can loose them.  You have to put them loose.  An animal or even a human can take the collar off..You'd be suprised how many cats and dogs are stolen every year.  

[DarkHououmon]

I wasn't suggesting to chip humans.....I don't get where that came up.

I've heard of that, actually. I have more mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I can see how it can be very useful. People who end up lost can be tracked down faster, thus increasing the chances of saving lives. On the other hand, though, some people may see the chip as an "invasion of privacy" and could be misused in the wrong hands.

However, this topic is about microchipping pets, not humans. If anyone would like to discuss the idea of microchipping humans, perhaps creating a new topic would be a good idea.

Anyway, back on topic. Yeah I'm aware of the fact that people do steal pets. That is why I'll most likely try to have any future pet of mine microchipped so I'll be able to find them if they are in fact stolen (or just simply get loose).

[Cancerian Tiger]

I have not gotten Pepper chipped yet, but I think I will eventually.  My older pup Max is chipped, as were two other dogs I had at the time who have since died.  I personally don't see it as a bad practice.  I think it's a good idea in case the pet gets loose and is picked up by animal control.  Instead of the owner having to call all of the shelters in the city, the shelter can scan the chip and contact the owner, saving a lot of time and stress.

As for whether or not it hurts the animal, it actually looks painless, as if the pet is just getting a vaccination shot.  When Max got chipped, the vet gently gripped a handful of skin between the shoulderblades and used a syringe with the same needle guage used on humans when given shots.  He did not even seem to notice, since he just stood there on the table and did not flinch or even yelp .