Each year millions of pets become lost or displaced. In fact, one in three pets will go missing during their lifetime. The AVID® Microchip is an implantable medical device that safely and permanently identifies your pet. Since 1985 AVID has successfully reunited millions of lost pets with their owners, and today, saving lives through microchip identification and recovery continues to be AVID's mission and business.
What is a microchip?
The AVID Microchip is an implantable, integrated transponder about the size of a grain of rice. The microchip is encapsulated in bioglass to prevent tissue irritation and microchip migration. The microchip is not a GPS, does not use batteries and becomes energized by a microchip scanner. The microchip is permanent and will last the life of the pet. Each microchip has a unique identification number encoded into its integrated circuit. When enrolled in a pet recovery service this number links the pet to the owner's contact information.
Why should I microchip my pet?
Each year, 6 to 8 million pets end up in shelters in the United States (Source: HSUS). Typically, these shelters take in hundreds of lost pets each week, experience overcrowding, and have limited resources. Some of these shelters have a no-kill policy while others have to make hard decisions. Thankfully, many shelters scan pets upon intake and before disposition and will try to reunite a microchipped pet with its owner. When a microchip is detected, the shelter will call a pet recovery service to locate the owner and reunite the pet. The system works, each month thousands of lost pets across the U.S. are reunited with their owners.
Does microchipping hurt my pet?
Microchips are typically injected between the shoulder blades with a syringe. The procedure is similar to receiving a vaccination through a needle and most pets don’t even react when the microchip is injected. The microchip provides a safe, permanent form of identification. It's like getting a vaccination against being lost!
How do I get my pet microchipped?
Many veterinarians and shelters offer microchipping services and host events in their communities. If you need assistance finding a local veterinarian contact AVID at 1-800-336-2843 and a representative will attempt to locate a veterinarian or implanting facility in your area. If your local veterinarian uses another brand of microchip you can still register your pet's microchip with PETtrac™, the worlds largest and longest operating pet recovery service.
Should I register my pets microchip?
Registering your pet with a pet recovery service is the most important step in the microchipping process. Unfortunately, many pet owners simply forget or don't take the time to register their pet. When an unregistered pet enters a shelter the pet could be adopted by another person, group or the unthinkable can happen. Unregistered pets are difficult to trace back to their owners and have a limited time to be reunited with their owners. Unclaimed pets take up unnecessary resources and cost taxpayers and donors an average of $120.00 in kennel fees. Remember, a microchipped pet has a better chance of being reunited with its owner but only if the pet is registered with a pet recovery service. Once your microchipped pet is registered with the PETtrac Pet Recovery Network, your pet can never leave home without identification.
Sources
"HSUS Pet Overpopulation Estimates."
The Humane Society of the United States.N.p., 23 2009. Web. 24 Oct 2012.
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/pet_overpopulation/facts/overpopulation_estimates.html
