Three years after her owner was killed in a massive mud slide, Patches the cat was reunited with her owner's partner, all thanks to a small (and relatively inexpensive) electronic marvel called a microchip.
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A stray Calico cat was brought in to the Animal Shelter Assistance Program (or ASAP) in Santa Barbara County, California last month. As part of their normal procedure, she was scanned and sure enough, she had a microchip implanted. It was registered to Josie Gower who was one of the victims of the massive mud slide three years ago that devastated the area and killed 23 people. But thanks to that microchip they were able to contact her family, and reunite “Patches” with Josie’s partner, Norm.
It is estimated that one out of every three pets will get lost during their lifetime. Experts say “only 15% of dogs and 2% of cats that enter animal shelters as strays are reunited with their owners.” A collar with a tag is still a good idea, although collars can come off. What brought Patches home was that microchip, a high-tech device that is no larger than a grain of rice. It contains a unique code that can be read by a microchip scanner. It identifies the company that made it and allows that company to look up the owner in its registry. Most animal shelters and veterinarians have scanners that can detect the microchips.
The chips are implanted under the animals’ skin, usually between the shoulder blades, using a special injection device much like a syringe. The procedure is relatively painless, requiring no anesthetic or special care. It will last for the life of the animal. And there’s no danger to the pet, because the microchip has no batteries or moving parts.
Josie’s family assumed Patches had died along with her owner. No one knows where Patches has been for the past three years, but it was clear that she and Norm are happy to be reunited.
Ask your veterinarian about having your petmicrochipped. It is just another way of saying I love you – I don’t want to lose you – ever! And it can lead to happy reunions like the one this week with Patches and Norm – even after three years – when you’re speaking of pets.
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