HomeAgain Microchip
Did you know that 90% of lost pets are never recovered? Every pet has some chance of being lost and that’s why the Vilonia Animal Clinic staff and doctors 
recommend HomeAgain Microchips as an easy, inexpensive, permanent form of identification for your pet. The procedure is simple and similar to administering a vaccine or a routine shot. The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is injected under the loose skin between the shoulder blades. The process takes only a few seconds, and your pet should not react any more than he would to a vaccination.
Once your pet has received the microchip, he or she will then be registered with the HomeAgain national database which will store your contact information as well as your pet’s unique microchip number, photo and description. Once informed of a missing pet, HomeAgain immediately sends out Rapid Lost Pet Alerts to veterinarians and shelters surrounding the area in which your pet was lost. HomeAgain also supplies you with an easy-to-personalize “Lost Pet” poster that you can print and post in the neighborhood.
The microchip is convenient, safe, and reliable. Though many veterinarians and animal shelters are actively working to inform their clients about microchipping, there are still a number of myths keeping pet owners from microchipping their pets.
The myth: It’s going to hurt my pet to get the chip implanted.
The truth: The procedure is simple, routine, and painless, and it doesn’t require any anesthesia. Your pet simply gets an injection just under the loose skin between the shoulder blades; it’s a lot like getting vaccinated. Most animals don’t react at all.
The myth: Most shelters and veterinarians don’t have microchip readers, so they won’t be able to identify my pet.
The truth: It’s true that a microchip won’t work to identify your pet unless your pet comes in contact with a microchip reader. There are few shelters and veterinarians in the US today that don’t have readers. The main microchip manufacturers offer universal microchip readers to humane societies, shelters, and veterinarians for free or for a small fee. Of course, to be sure your pets will be returned to you, you should identify them with an updated tag and a microchip.
The myth: Eventually, the microchip will wear out and I’ll have to have it replaced.
The truth: The chip doesn’t have an internal battery or power source. Most of the time it is inactive. When the microchip reader is passed over it, it gets enough power from the reader to transmit the pet’s ID number. Since there’s no battery and no moving parts, there’s nothing to wear out or replace. The microchip will last throughout your pet’s lifetime. However, it is your responsibility as the pet owner to update your pet’s microchip everytime you change addresses or phone numbers.
The myth: My cat never goes outside. She 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. Unaltered pets in particular will take any chance to roam. There’s a possibility that your house could be damaged in 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 she could get out, and if she doesn’t have any ID, it will be extremely hard to find her.
The myth: If someone else ever tries to claim my pet, the microchip ID number won’t hold up in court.
The truth: A microchip ID number is unique, it can’t be changed, and it links a pet to its owner through an international database. It works a lot like the serial numbers that link vehicles, stereos, TV sets, and other valuable possessions to their owners. The American and Canadian Kennel Clubs have recognized microchipping as definitive proof of a dog’s identity and ownership, and accept microchip identification to register purebred dogs. If you own a very valuable pet, or if you’re afraid there might be a question about who has custody of your pet, microchip identification could be a big help.
Microchipping is safe, effective, durable, and dependable, but it can’t absolutely guarantee that a lost pet will be found. The best way to keep your pet safe is to use more than one form of identification such as a tag with your contact information on it. Another possibility would be a tag that informs readers that your pet has been microchipped and gives them the number to call to reach the ID number database. There’s always the possibility that one kind of identification could fail, but if your pet has two or three kinds of ID, there’s a good chance that at least one will help bring her home to you. Talk to your veterinarian about how to provide the best identification for your pet.