Why you should microchip your pets....

[RileyDC]

Originally Posted by katy-yorkie

Took Buster and Maggie to get chipped today with Home Again. The website says the fee is $17.99/year. When I called customer service she told me the fee is $17.99/year, she didn't mention anything about extra services. I'll wait until next year and see.

They have been extra quiet since they were chipped, almost like they were drugged. They have both slept all day. Does anyone know if this is normal? My regular vet doesnt chip, I took them to another clinic in the area.

hmmmm: The Website does say:
Is the procedure to implant the microchip expensive?

While the price can vary from one veterinarian to another, implanting the microchip costs around $45. This is a one-time fee; the microchip does not need maintenance or replacement. In addition, there is an annual fee of $17.99 for your pet's HomeAgain membership.

***************************

This is the Renewal Email I Got:

You already made the smart choice when you chose to have your pet microchipped and enrolled into the HomeAgain Pet Recovery Service. With your annual HomeAgain membership, you'll get so much more than just basic* pet recovery. You'll get all of these proactive pet recovery and wellness benefits:

Help With Your Search – Call our Lost Pet Specialists whenever your pet goes missing—24/7! We reach out to our Lost Pet Recovery Network of veterinarians, animal shelters, and volunteer PetRescuers to strengthen your search efforts.

Lost Pet Alerts & Posters – Our trained specialists send out rapid response Lost Pet Alerts the second they get the report your pet is missing.

Members can download and print customized Lost Pet Posters to hang up in the area where your pet went missing.

ASPCA—Staffed Pet Emergency Medical Hotline – When emergency strikes at anytime day or night, call for telephone assistance provided by ASPCA veterinarians (a $60 value per call).

Found Pet Travel Assistance— Covers up to $500 to fly your found dog or cat home when they are discovered over 500 miles away from home.

Pets get lost when you least expect it. So, give your pet the protection they deserve. Give them another year of HomeAgain.

Sincerely,
Shelly Hall
HomeAgain Customer Care

*Basic service: Your pet’s microchip number and your contact information will remain in the HomeAgain Recovery Database forever. You can update your contact information at www.HomeAgain.com at any time.

[carmen in nj]

Every dog in my house is chip and registered, and also ALL the puppies that leave my home go home microchiped also.. is no reason not to get it done.. you never know when you are going to need it..
hugs,

[katy-yorkie]

Originally Posted by carmen in nj

Every dog in my house is chip and registered, and also ALL the puppies that leave my home go home microchiped also.. is no reason not to get it done.. you never know when you are going to need it..
hugs,

I can't believe I waited so long to do it...whatever the cost, it is worth it. I hope I never need it.

[GuinnessStout]

I got my chip when I registered his name with his CKC papers so they just mailed me the HUGE needle with the chip in it... one look at that thing and I knew I would NEVER be able to it myself so when they had him down to be neutered my vet did it for free.

[YorkieSpirit1]

just curious, when Emy got her rabies shot it left a lump in her neck, that
has eventually gone down (after a month)...does this procedure leave
a swelling lump like a shot would do?? She gets spayed in the next month, so was wondering..

[Dana Lynne]

So thrilled Baxter & Cooper are home. Have followed the story closely, as we live in San Antonio, where the dogs were stolen. Thank God for answered prayers!!

[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by Teresa Ford

Making it Protocol
Maybe every groomer, Vet, rescue, pound,shelter or place selling dogs should have this information right on the data sheet Dog Scanned ?______ #______________. We use our SS# and Driver Lic. to prove we are who we say we are. Micro Chips should be the same for dogs.
I would like to see a requirement that every adult animal sold must be micro chipped. And like cars you only have 14 days to change the (title) ownership.
They are finding a way to do this with stolen cell phone, my gosh how much more important is our beloved pet.

[Trishe]

Bailey just had his microchip today while he was neutered. It's with the AKC Companion Animal Recovery. It's a lifetime membership with no annual fee. AKC CAR - Companion Animal Recovery
I'm so happy that Baxter & Cooper are home!!

[My lil Pumpkin]

I AGREE with everyone whos saying scanning pups should always just be a routine thing everywhere (vet, groomer, shelter, when u apply for their license, etc.) But here's what I wonder....What if a kind soul should come across a poor lost and hungry adorable little pup with no tags, so they take that pup into their home and care for it, possibly look in local newspapers for any "Lost Dog" ads, and call local Police but no luck finding a owner. (they dont think of getting the dog scanned to see if its microchipped) So this person decides of course to keep and continue to care for the pup because she's just adorable, and they fall head over hells in love with her. So say some time passes, and the pup gets used to its new home and also falls in love with its new owner(s)....the dog is perfectly happy & healthy & very well taken care of and no one questions whether the people are the pups true owners (including the people that took her in-they just thank God for their blessing-to have been the ones to find her & 2be able to help her... instead of some crazy jerk finding her that could've scared her or not cared for her properly, or worse! Who knows who could've come along 5mins after, down that dark street, late at night, in the bad part of the city!) Then say several years pass without the dog ever being in any circumstance to be scanned!!
What happens then when say after 5 or more yrs. the dog finally does get scanned for some reason or the people learn about microchipping and decide to microchip her but are surprised 2 end up discovering shes already microchipped and its her previous owners from like 6 years prior that come up!!?? What happens then?! Is there any law or amount of time that goes by, that they wouldnt be allowed to take her back?
I recently had a close call with my little girl, couldn't find her for 2 1/2 heartbreaking & grueling hours. Possibly the absolute worst hours of my life! I was crazy hysterical thinking that someone might have driven up and stolen her right out of the yard during the couple mins I was distracted with moving boxes! I couldnt help but think of the most horrible and worst possibilities, and it tore ME APART!! I NEVER WANT ANYONE TO EVER FEEL WHAT I FELT! I was so scared for her, becuz shes my ONE and ONLY BABY, so I spoil her A LOT (I know..but I cant help it!) So shes very attached to me and vice versa, I COULD NOT bare to think of how scared she'd be without her Momma! I cried &cried! But I THANK THE LORD, MY BABY GIRL came back to me!! I have no words except THANK U GOD, I cant explain my appriciation to have her back safe! After the entire neighborhood searching for her for almost 3 hrs. straight, while I was out back calling 4her, she randomly just appeared in the front lawn! My brother came over to help search & said when he went up the back stairs into the house he could hear barking coming from the front. So sure enough, he went to open the front door &she was sitting there scared &barking (she was calling 4me) After many many tears & a VERY emotional reunion I'm left wondering what could've happened to my baby girl....
Besides our own two eyes always watching them what else can always truely keep them happy & safe?
THIS IS WHY I WONDER.....Why cant they make all microchips also have a GPS that can only be activated by their owner or something?? I dont know....
God Bless ALL that care for and love a YORKIE!!!!!!

[Tinksmygirl]

I had Tink chipped at the same time she was spayed. I also have a tag on her collar with my phone number and address just in case. I am so happy those dogs are finally home where they belong! I love happy endings.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by katy-yorkie

Took Buster and Maggie to get chipped today with Home Again. The website says the fee is $17.99/year. When I called customer service she told me the fee is $17.99/year, she didn't mention anything about extra services. I'll wait until next year and see.

They have been extra quiet since they were chipped, almost like they were drugged. They have both slept all day. Does anyone know if this is normal? My regular vet doesnt chip, I took them to another clinic in the area.

Jeanie they send an email out each year and it is a tad bit misleading imho. You do NOT have to pay the annual fee. That is for the Home Again Membership....those are extra services that they sell. Once you purchase a chip, your pet is in their system forever whether you pay that fee or not. All of my pups have Home Again chips and I have NEVER paid that fee.

[Dana Lynne]

Here's the link for those interested in seeing the interview of Peggy Riley, whose beloved Yorkies, Baxter and Cooper, were stolen from her San Antonio home in April 2011. (have a tissue handy)

KABB Fox San Antonio :: Top Stories - S.A. Woman in Disbelief Over Miracle

[YazminD]

Originally Posted by YorkieSpirit1

just curious, when Emy got her rabies shot it left a lump in her neck, that
has eventually gone down (after a month)...does this procedure leave
a swelling lump like a shot would do?? She gets spayed in the next month, so was wondering..

Yazmin had a HomeAgain microchip put in and had no swelling at all. The vet said she may be a little sore between her shoulder blades for a few days because she was small but I didn't see any signs of soreness from her either!

So happy to see Baxter and Cooper home with their Momma, What a great ending!

[ladyjane]

For those of you who are confused about Home Again Membership. I just received an email today about one of the YHR foster pups...said his Membership was expiring.

Anyone reading that subject line would assume you must pay the yearly fee...if you read the email thoroughly it says the following:


XXXXXs microchip only provides basic* information should your pet become lost. So renew today to reactivate XXXXX's membership.

*Basic service: Your pet’s microchip number and your contact information will remain in the HomeAgain National Recovery Database forever. You can update your contact information at Pet Microchip for Dogs and Cats | HomeAgain Pet ID & Recovery Service at any time.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Tibbe has Home Again and I did "join" and pay an add. fee for the second year but after that, decided not to. I just check to be sure the data is still there & correct every so often. To me, it's a little misleading at first but on rereading, it is stated the additional yearly fee is to join their annual program for the added services they are offering but that the chip implant and Home Again data are there for the duration of the chip & the site, to be accessed once the chip is implanted and activated, all from that initial one-time fee. I sure wish every vet would scan every dog that comes in and verify ownership, do f/u but many of them say that is not their function as a medical practice.