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Paws to Consider... Identify your pet |
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Wednesday, 09 April 2008 |
Have you been wondering about the hype associated with micro-chipping pet identification systems? Maybe you’ve heard the advertisements on the radio or read about pet identification in this column. The real message is that identifying your pet greatly increases the chances that you will be reunited with your dog or cat. Remember the dog from Grand Forks who was found in South Carolina, and because of the micro-chip I.D. the dog was returned to its family?
The Sheyenne Valley Friends of Animals recently had a similar experience. A person living on a local farm called to say that two dogs showed up near her home, one had a collar but no tags and the other had no collar at all, and they were not in good shape. She had given them some food but had not confined them, hoping they would go home. After eight days, the SVFA was contacted again. The dogs were still returning to the farm. They were continuing to lose weight. At the conclusion of the weekend SVFA volunteers picked up the dogs and took them the Valley City Veterinary Hospital. KOVC broadcast descriptions of the dogs and the SVFA took pictures and “found dog” ads were placed in the VC Times Record.
At the Valley City Vet Hospital, as part of the routine procedure, the dogs were “scanned,” and one of them had a micro-chip I.D. After tracing the chip to a college in Minnesota, obtaining a telephone number that was no longer accurate, and contacting some local residents, the owners were found. The moral of this story: I.D. your pet.
Having your cat or dog wear identification is important for minimizing the chances of theft or permanent loss. Visible tags with your phone number are a must but because the collar can slip off or the tags can be lost, also consider a microchip. Call Valley City Veterinary Hospital for an appointment. The one time cost is only $35. If your pet is missing, check with the local veterinary hospital, the police department, the sheriff’s department, and the local radio station. These dogs were two of the lucky ones. Most lost pets are never recovered; most die. Please I.D. your pet through collars, tags, or micro-chip identification.
UPCOMING EVENT:
The SVFA will hold its April general membership meeting on Monday April 14, 2008, at 7:00p.m. in the Municipal Courtroom in the Valley City Police Department. Everyone, members and non-members, is welcome. Refreshments will be served, and the program will include: recent SVFA activities, a report on the 2008 Spay/Neuter Campaign, a preliminary report on a proposed Dog Park for Valley City and a (an informational) presentation by Dick Monson on the initiative to ban “canned hunting” in North Dakota. Join us. Take this opportunity to join SVFA, perhaps win a prize (a free microchip for your pet!), and learn more about animal related issues in our community.
CAN YOU GIVE A CAT A HOME?
We have a number of cats available for adoption. We have cats who like to play, cats who like to nap, polydactyl cats, calico cats, cats that tolerate dogs, cats that don’t, cats with all claws, cats with some claws, and more. We have a variety of cats to choose from. Give us a call! 840-5047.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 23 May 2008 )
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