It is not impossible that your pet gets lost or flees following an unexpected event. It is when such a situation arises that the microchip can make all the difference and provide you the best probability of finding your companion.
What is a microchip?
It is a very small capsule the size of a grain of rice that is inserted under the animal’s skin between its shoulder blades, using a syringe. The microchip contains a unique identification number that allows you to be permanently linked with your pet. It is using a specialized reader that the chip is detected since it is invisible to the naked eye. Subsequently, his identification number gives access to the contact details of the caretaker. However, it is important to understand that the microchip does not function as a GPS!
Why have your pet microchipped ?
Since it is subcutaneous, the microchip cannot be lost or removed. If your pet goes astray and is not wearing its tag, loses it or someone malicious takes it away, the microchip will identify it. In fact, if he ends up at the SPA Eastern Townships, reading his microchip will allow our staff to find you instantly and communicate with you as soon as possible. The presence of a microchip is checked each time a dog or cat is admitted to our shelter. Many veterinary clinics also have microchip readers to identify found animals.
If you find a stray animal, please contact the SPA Eastern Townships as soon as possible. The animal could have a microchip to identify a family awaiting its return.
Where to have your pet microchipped?
A microchip is implanted by or under the supervision of a veterinarian. Veterinarians have the necessary skills and equipment for safe implantation.
How much does microchipping cost?
According to the Association des médecins vétérinaires du Québec (AMVQ), microchipping costs about $70 in veterinary clinics. However, the price may vary from clinic to clinic. In addition, some shelters or municipal organizations may offer microchipping clinics at a reduced price.
Is the implantation of a microchip painful?
Microchipping is a quick, simple and safe procedure. Inserting the needle may cause slight discomfort to the animal, but does not require any anesthesia and is no more painful than a vaccination.
Microchip & tag: A Perfect Match!
The microchip is intended as a complementary way of identification tag. Even if your pet is microchipped, he must always wear his SPA Eastern Townships tag. The latter visibly indicates to your neighborhood that your companion has a guardian and a simple phone call to the SPA will identify the animal in question. The reunion could thus be done without having to go to the shelter or even to a veterinary clinic. In addition, let’s not forget that the wearing of the tag is mandatory under the municipal regulations of the municipalities served by the SPA as well as for all dogs under the provincial regulations governing dogs.
Update your information
It is the responsibility of the guardian to report any change of address, telephone number or guardianship. In fact, the identification number of the microchip is linked to a database and that need to be updated in order to be able to trace the animal’s owner.
Have you adopted your pet at the SPA Eastern Townships? The good news is that it is automatically microchipped! During the adoption, your contact details were recorded in the SPAE database, but also at EIDAP, the company chosen for the microchips of the animals in our shelter. If you move, it is important to let us know so we can update your file. Then do the same with EIDAP by sending an email to info@eidap.com.
If your animal does not come from the SPAE, but is microchipped, find out which company to contact to update your microchip contact details.
For more information on the microchip, we invite you to communicate directly with your veterinary clinic.