The tatoo number can be altered... a one madeinto a seven, a 3 into an 8... but a chip cannot be altered, or removed!
When my lil girl, Pebbles, was stolen, and we knew who had her, a microchip could have solved it it an instant! I will never forgive myself for not doing it for her! The police said that they could have escorted us both to the local pound who has both type scanners and they could scan the dog... that they would then be able to solve the dispute... but since I had no means of identification, I was screwed... I could not PROVE that this was infact my dog! This was before the studs were DNA'd... That could be a means of ID now... but thats if you know where your dog is!
If it is out and wandering... is picked up by the county or animal control, they will scan the dog.
Say you lose your dog and you contact every groomer in the area with a picture and reward offer.... your dog will eventually have to be groomed! When the offender finally takes them in and the groomer asks all of their first time questions, the red flag goes up and she gives you a call.... how do you prove its your dog? pictures won't do.
Did you know that Labs face a monster fine if caught using dogs with Microchips or tatoos? Most labs don't ask where the dogs come from they just use brokers... but they will scan them all and check for tatoos, cause the State and Gov will when inspecting! The fine is like a million dollars...its crazy! So even if your dog is stolen for lab use, if it is chipped or Tattooed, it will not be used.
I like the idea of having all of the protection you can, but the chip is my choice! I would not want a dog theif cutting of an ear or altering a tatoo, think of the pain! Yikes!
__________________ Kathryn, Pixie  and Chynna  |