WHY YOU SHOULD GET YOUR DOG MICROCHIPPED

If your dog gets lost, there’s a much higher chance of them returning to you if they’re microchipped.

Identification and traceability are important parts of responsible dog ownership. A microchip provides permanent identification for your pet and gives them the best chance of being reunited with you, should they happen to go missing.

WHAT IS A MICROCHIP AND HOW DOES MICROCHIPPING WORK?

A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted just under the skin of dogs and cats. The chip is implanted by an injection between the shoulder blades. The microchip is pre-programmed with an identification number that’s read by a microchip scanner. This identification number is registered on a database.

DOES SOUTH AFRICA HAVE MICROCHIPPING LAWS?

Since April 2016, all dog owners in the UK had to have their dogs microchipped and recorded on a government-compliant microchip database. Unfortunately, there’s no such legislation in South Africa, and it’s up to the pet owner to do it. Have your pet microchipped at an established and reputable company such as Virbac, who’ll register your pet on South Africa’s National Animal Database. In fact, Virbac will register any type of microchip, including their own Virbac Backhome microchip, so contact them to get your dog registered. Visit their website on www.backhome.co.za or email – backhome@virbac.co.za. You can also call them on 011 027 8837.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR PET IS LOST OR MISSING

Thoroughly check your own property first. Look in cosy places, under beds, in wardrobes, and anywhere else your dog may think it could get some rest or could be stressed and in hiding.

Search your neighbourhood, leaving the description of your missing dog and your contact details with as many people as possible. Remember to speak to any gardeners or to service personnel such as postmen or Pikitup workers who cover a wide area. If you are trying to find a lost dog, walk around the area where the dog went missing with a lead, some treats, and maybe the dog’s favourite toy. The scents of all these things may bring your lost dog back to you.

Place missing pet posters everywhere you can, like local shops, vets, lampposts, restaurants, schools, churches, and supermarkets. Contact your local WhatsApp and Facebook community groups and ask them to put out a message for you. Visit other lost-and-found pet social media pages, and leave your message and photos on as many of them as possible.

FIVE GOOD REASONS TO MICROCHIP YOUR DOG

Microchipping causes little discomfort – If you’re worried about distressing your dog unnecessarily, you’ll be pleased to know that microchipping is a quick (only takes a few seconds), safe and simple procedure that causes very little discomfort. Your dog may flinch as it goes in, but this is about the biggest reaction. Any pain experienced is very short-lived and forgotten about quickly.

Microchipping can help return your pet – There are a number of reasons why pets go missing. Whatever the reason, there’s a much higher chance of them returning to you if they’re microchipped. Should someone find your dog, they can take it to the vet or a shelter to be scanned and you’ll be reunited in no time.

Microchipping protects against theft– Sadly, many dogs are stolen in South Africa, and if your dog isn’t microchipped, proof of ownership can be a challenge. If your dog goes missing and you suspect someone else has them, microchipping can help discover the true owner.

Microchipping is a lifetime deal – Once a microchip is inserted, it’ll stay there for the duration of your dog’s life. Collars and ID tags are great, but they’re not permanent. Should your dog break free from their collar or their tag fall off, they’re indistinguishable without a microchip.

Microchipping is not expensive – Microchipping is affordable, and you’ll have peace of mind that you’re protecting your dog.

Microchipping takes the pressure off rescue shelters – South African shelters are overflowing with stray dogs that could’ve been returned to their owners if they were microchipped. There have been wonderful reunion stories about dogs that’ve been found in a shelter many kilometres away from home – simply because they had a microchip. Microchipping can also save your dog’s life if they end up in a shelter that euthanises.

BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY

Losing your dog can be a traumatic and even tragic event. Conscientious pet parents protect their dogs by making sure they have a microchip. It’s also vitally important to stop your dog from getting lost in the first place by doing the following –

· Make sure that your dogs are in the back garden if possible with a fence between so that they can’t be seen from the street (to avoid theft and poisoning) and that they can’t run out into the street when cars are pulling in and out.

· When you have builders, maintenance workers or a garden service coming, keep your dogs indoors or make sure someone is there to monitor the dogs. In most cases, dogs getting out of gardens and getting lost is due to gates being left open.

· Make sure that your gates close securely and that walls or fences have no holes and can’t be dug under. If your dog’s a jumper, make sure your walls or fences are high enough.

· Always keep your dog on a leash when out walking or in a public area.

· Make sure that your dog’s secure when travelling in a car.

· Ensure that pet sitters, puppy day care centres, grooming parlours and even training grounds have safety measures in place so that dogs can’t escape.

Acknowledgements – Virbac BackHome