Microchipping - GPS??

[YorkieMiki]

I have a 2 year old yorkie mix. I got him microchipped a while back.

I was just thinking it won't really do much unless someone actually wants to return him or knows where to look.

Are there any GPS tracking microchips that actually can show the location of him if he gets stolen by someone who doesn't intend to return?

Anyone have experience with this?

[OwnedByJezebel]

I haven't seen any internal chip with GPS. All I've ever found were collars or devices that attach to a collar:

GPS for Pets - Consumer Reports

GPS For Dogs | The Best GPS Tracking Devices For Dogs

[YorkieMiki]

Oh nice the collar one would be good too! as long as a thief doesn't know to remove it! thank u!

[yipyap]

I had my Yorkie's microchip put in during his neutering surgery. Our vet only charges $25.00 extra if you do them together while pup is already asleep for the main surgery. Taffy was about 8-9 months old when he had his neutering surgery because our vet owns two little dogs. She said with little breeds it is wise to give them time to mature before putting them through neutering surgery.
My vet gave me the microchip company's pamphlet and the i.d. cards that show Taffy's chip number. Now, vet told me to read the pamphlet's directions and said the microchip company would expect ME to call them & register my Yorkie's microchip number with them --our vet does Not phone in the info. Taffy's microchip number is on the i.d. card in my wallet. I also got little key-chain-sized i.d. tags. Taffy might get away from me when I may not have my purse, so the key-chain-tag is a great back-up to show in an emergency. It would be GREAT if microchips connected to a satellite-monitoring location system, but regular microchip was invented to help identify dogs. You just have to hope that if your dog gets lost that an HONEST person will take dog to SPCA, a vet, police, or look through newspaper ads for a lost Yorkie!!

[YorkieMiki]

Yeah I'm nervous at the moment because I've seen signs in my neighborhood about a yorkie that was stolen recently.

I'd be devastated if my little bud went missing.

[yipyap]

Dear YorkieMiki--If you are seeing signs up in your neighborhood about a stolen Yorkie, then I would only take your little Yorkie out on a leash.
Even if you have a fenced-in back yard, do not leave him outside alone to run and play; it would only take a few minutes for a determined dog-napper to get over most fences to grab a Yorkie!
Our nice, family-owned pet store put up a 'special reward notice' on their outdoor display sign for 5 months in 2012 because one of their good customers left her little pug in the car while she went inside to get dog food. She was sure her car's doors were locked, but when she came back...the pug was gone! If a 'skilled dog-napper' wanted to steal a dog, then sitting in their car in a pet store's parking lot would be a great place to wait. Maybe the big chain-pet-stores may have security cameras on their roof to record parking lot's activity, but not at our smaller, family store. No one ever called about the pug's $500.00 reward.

[Carmeow]

From what I understand, the GPS tracking collar only works on larger dogs. I am not sure why, but it sucks. It would help reunite so many more lost doggies. I wish there were collars that would give off a "ping" similar to how the police can find missing persons based off where their cell phone last pinged off a tower.

[YorkieMiki]

Originally Posted by yipyap

Dear YorkieMiki--If you are seeing signs up in your neighborhood about a stolen Yorkie, then I would only take your little Yorkie out on a leash.
Even if you have a fenced-in back yard, do not leave him outside alone to run and play; it would only take a few minutes for a determined dog-napper to get over most fences to grab a Yorkie!
Our nice, family-owned pet store put up a 'special reward notice' on their outdoor display sign for 5 months in 2012 because one of their good customers left her little pug in the car while she went inside to get dog food. She was sure her car's doors were locked, but when she came back...the pug was gone! If a 'skilled dog-napper' wanted to steal a dog, then sitting in their car in a pet store's parking lot would be a great place to wait. Maybe the big chain-pet-stores may have security cameras on their roof to record parking lot's activity, but not at our smaller, family store. No one ever called about the pug's $500.00 reward.

Thanks for advice. It just scares me the thought of losing him.

I was talking to a neighbor once about her little poodle. I asked her about it and she told me that she "rescued it". I asked her "That's nice from what shelter?"

She said "Oh I rescued her from the street.....it was running around when I was visiting my mother and it just jumped into my arms. it didn't have an ID"

I told her "You should have taken it to the vet or pound to check for a microchip. it's very likely a small dog is microchipped".

She said "Yeah I think it was microchipped but I just never got a chance to take it in, it''s likely the microchip expired anyways..."

....


...what a stand up citizen.... (sarcasm)

Also she said this happened 5 years ago so I doubt there's much to do at this point

...what a jerk

[matese]

My adopted boy is micro chipped, when I adopted him from my vet they had me fill out the form for "home again" to change from prev. owner info to mine. 30 days later I received an email from "home Again" had to fill out form on line, 30 days after that "Home Again" called me on the phone to verify all the info. But I will say this, god forbid our yorkies go MIA I doubt very much anyone would return them. I have my lil boy 3 months and still getting to know him, I don't know how he'll be when warm weather gets here (if ever) meaning I don't know if he will try to dig a hole under fence to get out. He is a city boy now living in the country, he LOVES his yard, I can hear him singing "born free" as he runs like a greyhound around the yard. I live in a heavily wooded area, now with no foliage you can see house on other side of the woods, there is a BIG German Shepard that lives there, my Cody sees him and wants him. I have to keep telling him NO, so I have concerns for the warm weather. BUT, I NEVER left my other dogs out alone, I was always out there watching them, I get so much pleasure to see my dogs free to run, play & hunt, I will do the same with this lil guy. Dog napping like drugs are all over. If they get lost only ppl like us, ppl that love their dogs as they do their children, and know the pain an owner is going through would turn the dog in. Most ppl if they find a pedigree they keep it. Micro chipping is excellent only if lost and found is returned. It would be wonderful if it could be connected to a GPS device, I am sure a dog lover geek is working on that as we speak.

[OwnedByJezebel]

Both of mine are chipped, but I also have Lucky Tags on their collars. They have an owner alert service at a very reasonable one-time cost ($9.95). Owner Alert! Lost Pet Recovery Service

Of course, chips and Lucky Tags are only good if they are found by someone honest.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by YorkieMiki

Thanks for advice. It just scares me the thought of losing him.

I was talking to a neighbor once about her little poodle. I asked her about it and she told me that she "rescued it". I asked her "That's nice from what shelter?"

She said "Oh I rescued her from the street.....it was running around when I was visiting my mother and it just jumped into my arms. it didn't have an ID"

I told her "You should have taken it to the vet or pound to check for a microchip. it's very likely a small dog is microchipped".

She said "Yeah I think it was microchipped but I just never got a chance to take it in, it''s likely the microchip expired anyways..."
....


...what a stand up citizen.... (sarcasm)

Also she said this happened 5 years ago so I doubt there's much to do at this point...what a jerk

That woman should be ashamed of herself, the heartbreak she likely caused some family, worried sick about their little missing poodle.....I use Avid chips and they do not "expire"....the pup is registered with Avid and at any time if the dog is lost, and the microchip is scanned, the owner will be contacted as listed on the registeration, and I ALSO will be notified, as I am listed as the implanter.....I was also told the lot # on the chips are registered to my name so I will be contacted if any of my babies are lost and found and scanned. Dogs lost longer than 5 years have indeed been successfully returned to their rightful owners....I can not imagine how in the world that neighbor of yours can sleep with a clear conscience, knowing she has a dog that is microchipped, belongs to someone else, and she essentially stole the pup from its rightful owners.

[yipyap]

I agree! That young lady simply saw a cute poodle and basically decided she just wanted to keep it! All that story about "it jumped into her arms" when it saw her walking on the street, so she 'thought' the poodle needed to be "rescued" is the biggest, most ridiculous lie for keeping someone else's dog!
The poodle had obviously gotten away from its owner. She could have checked at any SPCA or vet's office. If the microchip was there, they would have called the poor, worried owner. Sorry, she is a dog-napper! Grrrrrr- Sue & Taffy
***P.S.- Okay folks, I called my Vet's Office and the receptionist 'thought' they last for the dog's whole life, but since all the vets & nurses were really busy, she asked me to just call the "Pet Link ResQ" number. (She asked me to call her back to tell her their response in case some body else asked her--Ha!)
So, I called my Microchip Co and finally got through to a rep. She assured me that their microchips last the dog's whole life!
She also said when Taffy next has a vet visit to ask vet to "run the wand" over his upper shoulders to make sure it is Still in the "right place". She said somtimes a microchip can "work its way down out of place" and end-up in the dog's upper front leg instead of up in the top shoulder! (I did not know about this! She said its a good idea to have them run "the wand" over your dog periodically--especially if the dog is very "active", to be sure the wand Can easily pick-up the microchip. She seemed in a hurry to answer more calls, so I'll ask the vet what happens if the chip gets way out of position.)
**She also said The Most Important Thing is to Call your Microchip Co. and let them know if your Phone Number or Your Address changes; she said many customers forget to "update their Contact Information" and they may not be able to trace the owners if they only have an old number or address. It is Your Responsibility to call them! she said.