MICROCHIPPING
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What Is a Microchip & What Does It Do?
An animal microchip is a small capsule, about the size of a grain of rice, which contains an encoded 15 digit number. The chip is implanted by an authorised person (either a licensed veterinarian or veterinary nurse) under the skin between the shoulder blades of the animal. An electronic scanner can pick up this number by being passed over the location of the chip. At the time of implantation, you fill out a form listing all of your relevant contact details. These are then placed into one of the national database systems, corresponding to the number contained within your pet’s microchip.
This ultimately means that when a ‘stray’ animal is brought into a vet practice, animal welfare group or the pound, the electronic scanner may be passed over the location of the chip, and the number identified. From this, the database system can be called to acquire your contact details, so that the animal can be returned to you.
It is vitally important that whenever your contact details change(i.e. your address or phone numbers), that you update them with the database system. Countless times, we have had animals brought into us, and been excited to find a microchip, only to contact the database and see that the phone numbers supplied have since been disconnected.
Do I Have To Microchip My Pet?
The Queensland government passed a law that came into effect on the 10th of December, 2010, which stated that any new cat or dog,born after this date, or one that has had a change of ownership after this date, MUST be microchipped. For pet owners whose pet is already aged over 12weeks before this date, microchipping is optional.
New puppies and kittens are to be chipped after 8 weeks of age, but before they turn 12 weeks of age.
What Are The Benefits Of Having My Pet Microchipped?
Microchips are ‘implanted’ which means that they will be with your pet, wherever they go and unable to be lost or removed, as an identification collar and/or tag can be.
Microchips allow for your information to only be given to the necessary persons in order to return your animal to you.
The database system can be notified should your animal be lost or possibly stolen, and they will ‘flag’ the account, so that anyone calling in with the animal’s microchip number will be notified of this fact.
The local government gives an enticing incentive to microchipped pets.The overall cost each year for registration is reduced, and reduced again if you animal is also desexed.
For more information on updating details, or microchips in general, please contact us.