Microchipping your pet
You may think that your pet is protected from getting lost. But accidents happen, and some things - like hurricanes and other natural disasters - are out of your control. In fact, one in three pets will become lost during their lifetime. And according to the American Humane Association, only about 17 percent of lost dogs and two percent of lost cats ever find their way back to their original owners. Almost 4 million pets are euthanized every year because their owners can't be found in time - if a shelter cannot determine a pet's owner, the pet may be euthanized in as few as three days. To help give your pet the best chance of being identified should he ever become lost, have him implanted with the HomeAgain microchip.
Tags and collars are a good start - they're certainly better than no ID at all - but they aren't 100 percent dependable. Tags can fade, rust, or get scratched, making them impossible to read. Collars can tear or slip off, or get caught on something while your pet is wandering. With the HomeAgain microchip, on the other hand, your pet's source of identification is always available. To microchip your pet, a veterinarian injects a tiny chip about the size of a grain of rice just under your pet's skin between the shoulder blades. The number on the chip is then entered into the HomeAgain database.
When a lost pet is found, any animal hospital, shelter, or humane society can use a special handheld microchip scanner to read our microchip's unique ID number. The veterinarian or shelter then contacts the HomeAgain database. The database matches the number to a name and phone number, reuniting the lost pet with its owner. Maximize your pet's chances of recovery by enrolling in HomeAgain today.
The HomeAgain Microchip
The HomeAgain service starts with the microchip itself. Our microchip is centered on the use of a passive electronic device that emits a radio frequency only when activated by the scanner.
Unique
Each HomeAgain microchip is designed with the express purpose of storing and transmitting a unique alphanumeric code. This code represents your pet's essential identification - it is the number used by HomeAgain to determine your address and phone number, enabling your pet to return home. In addition, HomeAgain is the only microchip on the market today that has the Bio-Bond patented anti-migration feature to help ensure that the chip stays in place.
Size
For life
Finally, and most importantly, the HomeAgain microchip has no batteries or internal energy source so it will last the life of your pet. After implantation, the microchip remains inactive until it is read with a scanner - the low radio frequency emitted by the scanner provides the microchip with the power necessary to transmit its unique code and positively identify the animal. Thus, the microchip itself has no internal power and will be able to transmit the ID code for the life of the animal.
Myths About Microchipping
The myth: The procedure to implant the microchip is too expensive.
The truth: While the price can vary from one veterinarian to another, implanting the microchip at the Marlboro Animal Hospital is $49.99. This is a one-time fee; the chip never needs maintenance or replacement. In addition, there is an annual fee to maintain access to pet recovery and database enrollment that is covered for the first year in the initial implantation fee.
The myth: Enrolling in the database or service is not necessary.
The truth: Having your veterinarian implant the HomeAgain® microchip is the first step in pet protection. However, the microchip has no recovery benefits unless you enroll in the HomeAgain service. Your pet is only fully protected by HomeAgain when you activate your pet and provide your contact information (email and phone numbers) and other emergency contact information, this enrollment takes place at the time of the microchip implantation and there is no additional fee for it.
The myth: Implanting the microchip will hurt my pet.
The truth: The procedure is simple, routine, and virtually painless, and it doesn't require any anesthesia. Your pet gets an injection just under the loose skin between the shoulder blades, similar to getting vaccinated. Most animals don't react at all.
The myth: Most shelters and veterinarians don't have microchip scanners, so they won't be able to read the microchip and identify my pet.
The truth: Virtually all veterinarians and shelters are equipped to scan your pet should he become lost. Microchipping is not a guarantee of a returned pet, but it is another tool that we have to use in a time of crisis to reunite you with your pet.
The myth: Every pet with a microchip couldn't possibly be given a unique number. My pet's number will be duplicated.
The truth: The way technology works today, these tiny microchips can hold huge amounts of information. In fact, the microchips are designed to produce 275 billion different identification numbers. On top of that, manufacturers add unique product codes and manufacturer's codes to identify their chips. With all the possible combinations of product codes and ID numbers, there are more than enough numbers to make sure every pet has a completely unique number.
The myth: Eventually, the microchip will wear out and I'll need to have it replaced.
The truth: The chip doesn't have an internal battery or power source. In fact, most of the time it's inactive. When the microchip scanner is passed over it, the chip gets enough power from the scanner to transmit the pet's ID number. Since there is no battery and no moving parts, there's nothing to wear out or replace. The microchip will last throughout your pet's lifetime.
The myth: My cat never goes outside. He doesn't need to have a microchip ID.
The truth: It's wonderful that you're keeping your pet safe inside, but a guest or a repair person could easily leave the door open, or a screen could come loose from an open window. There's a possibility that your house could be damaged in a heavy storm, flood, or other natural disaster, causing your cat to run away in fear. Pets can even be stolen - particularly birds and exotic or purebred animals. No matter how closely you watch your favorite animal friend, there's always a chance he could get out, and if he doesn't have any ID, he will be extremely hard to find. Indoor cats are also far more likely to be kept if found by a stranger wandering outside, they tend to gravitate to a caring person much more readily than a cat used to being outdoors due to the fact that they are very scared and hungry. They also already know how to live in a house with people, using the litter boxes. This is why it is very important that indoor cats are microchipped.
The myth: It's not safe for my dog to have a foreign object inside his body.
The truth: Veterinarians have been implanting microchips in animals for years, and the process has been proven to be very safe. The chip is made out of an inert, biocompatible substance, which means it won't cause an allergic reaction or degenerate over time. In addition, HomeAgain is the only microchip on the market today that has the Bio-Bond patented anti-migration feature to help ensure that the chip stays in place. Microchipping is so safe that many countries all over the world are starting to require all animals to be microchipped.
