Vet Anne Fawcett: The dangerous myth of missing animals
VET Anne Fawcett didn’t think the misconception was widespread until she spoke to a vet detective from the US who said she hears it all the time.
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THERE’S a dangerous misconception circulating among pet owners in Australia and overseas which is preventing owners from being reunited with lost pets.
It’s this: that microchips act like a tracking device, or a miniature GPS, that can be activated if your pet goes missing.
We hear from distraught owners of missing pets every week, some of whom ask us if we can “track” their pet using the microchip. I didn’t realise how widespread this idea was until I met with certified pet detectives Megan Denize from New Zealand, and Brigid Wasson from the Missing Pet Partnership in the US. Both hear this myth all of the time.
A microchip acts as a bar code. When it is scanned, a 15-digit number appears on the scanner. This can be then checked on a database like the NSW Pet Registry. The number will bring up the details of the registered owner. If they are up to date, the pet can be immediately reunited with the owner. Unfortunately, many people forget to update their details when they move house or change contact details.
A microchip is only as good as the details linked to it. Log in to petregistry.nsw.gov.au to create a profile, “claim” your pet’s microchip number and ensure your details are up to date.
Dr Anne Fawcett is a lecturer in veterinary science at the University of Sydney and a vet with Sydney Animal Hospitals Inner West.
Read her blog: smallanimaltalk.com
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