Question:
Since I work @ an animal shelter (in the Lost & Found dept) I am a bit of an ID freak for my pets... I was curious as to IF you ID you pets and if so what kinds of ID do you have on your cats & dogs...
My dogs wear on their collars - a City dog licence, a microchip tag, a rabies tag and a PET ID tube (you look in one end and it's a microfilm, so you can include alot of info). They also have AVID microchips incase they lose their collars. My cats (even though they are inside cats) wear break-away collars with ID tag, rabies tag and microchip tags. They are also microchipped by AVID.


Answer:
Sue, where do you get the ID tubes? They sound really cool.
My dog wears has both an ID tag and his rabies tag on both of his collars (regular and chain). My cats stay indoors but I'm thinking that maybe I should ID them somehow. How does the microchipping work?


Answer:
The microchip is inserted just under the skin between the shoulderblades. It is not painful at all, most animals don't even notice (it's like getting a vaccination). All humane societies in Canada are required to scan all animals that come in to their shelter for microchips. We run a hand held scanner over the animal and if it has a microchip, the scanner will beep and a series of 10 or 12 numbers & letters will show up on the scanner. We then can either call the company (or do it on-line) to check the data base ...and it will tell us the animals name, owner's name, address, phone #'s and you can also add an alternate contact person (in case you're on vacation). You can also include info if your pet has a serious medical problem. You can get a microchip done at your vet or you can check with your SPCA to see if they provide this service. Greencolander has been running microchip clinics in & around Ottawa once a month and it has been very successful. I cannot stress how fast an animal gets re-united with the owner when they have a microchip. The only problem I've come across is when an owner moves or changes their phone # and doesn't update their contact information.
The ID tube (pet scope) I bought at Zellers (we also sold them for a while at the shelter)...it comes with a paper that you neatly fill out all the info and mail it to someplace in the USA. They transfer it to a microfilm and insert it in the tube and mail it back to you. (free of charge) The info on my dog's tubes include...dog's name, breed, dat of birth, owner's name, address, phone #'s, Veternarian & their address & #, any tags, vaccinations, medical conditions, medication they're on, brand of food they eat, any special care requirments, and at the bottom you can sign to say that if the animal is injured and I cannot be contacted that you give your permission to treat the animal. All of this in a little tube..you just look in the end and hold it up to the light and you can read it all very clearly. I love them! I think I spent about $10 for them.


Answer:
Thanks so much Sue. Next time I'm at Zellars I will look for the tube. Are there any complications with the microchips? Do they need to be replaced?


Answer:
wow that tube sounds wonderful!!!! Im thinking that since you would have to send them to the states to be transfered you should be able to buy them in the US as well??
Aspen has a collar I try to keep it on him and Andy cant stand the bell so he takes the collar off. I like for him to have the bell on so when (IF) he does get outside if her were to run for the birds then they will hear him. the collar has his ID on it. and is registered at the humane society.


Answer:
Candice...I believe the ID tube is called PET SCOPE. I've seen it other places too but I got it at Zellers.
There is normally no complications with microchips. Occasionally they have been known to migrate (but its rare), so I try to remember to have them checked at the vet each year when I'm getting vaccines done. After they have been implanted, you shouldn't bathe the animal for 48 hours after as this could possibly cause the microchip to fall out. They don't need to be replaced, it will definately last the lifetime of the pet and longer...


Answer:
Thanks for all the info Sue!


Answer:
I've seen the ID tube at Zellers.
Keesha and Ally have their rabies tag from the humane society, a tag with the number of their microchip company and they are microchipped.


Answer:
I use a paper id tube with a little scroll inside a metal casing, & also an engraved id tag with my # & bf's #. I am considering microchipping but my personal contact info changes so much that it might be useless.


Answer:
Neuro...I used to have those tubes with the paper inside and I can't tell you how many times the bottom comes unscrewed and the ID is lost. I see it at work ALL the time as well...their just not reliable enough for me!
As for the microchip info changing...you can change the address every week if you need to. Just call the company...If you decide to get one, be sure to put your BF's address & phone # as an alternate contact, so they will contact you if you're there.