Smiling JOe

Bay County Animal Control offering free micro-chipping in Jan '08 for pets.
(full story)
(Must reside in Bay County.)

...During the month of January you can get a free micro chip at the The Bay County Animal Control Facility at 6401 Bay Line Drive, across from the incinerator. They are open Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.


Even though the microchipping is free, there is still a small registration fee to place your animals information into the international data base.

If you have any questions you can call Valerie Michaels at 784 - 4024....


...Microchipping is when a small computer chip is placed under your pets skin. A number on the micro chip is entered into an international data base with your dogs information attached to it.


That way if your pet is ever picked up by an agency like the Humane Society, the pet is scanned for a chip, then cross referenced in that data base to help reunite you with your lost pet.


Now, the science isn't perfect. There are unfortunately some kinks that need to be worked out. Like the fact that different chip manufacturers have different scanners.

So, if your pet gets picked up by an agency and they don't have the scanner for the micro chip in your pet or a universal scanner, the information can't get read. But the industry is rapidly approaching a point where one scanner will read all chips.

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NoHall

The Jesus Cat is worried about what might happen if he has to go into the witness protection program. Will he need a whole new chip, or can they remotely reprogram his?

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SWGB

I have also heard that the chips supposedly cause cancer? This is probably along the lines as everything else seems to cause cancer.

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jdarg

I imagine a dog or cat probably has a better chance of getting loose and lost than getting a microchip induced tumor. This is one of those situations where the benefits waaaaay outweigh the risks. If your pet is not chipped, please do it soon!



AVMA journals > JAVMA News > Microchip reports October 15, 2007 AVMA weighs in on microchip-tumor reports Printer-friendly version The AVMA is very concerned about press reports and studies linking microchips commonly implanted in cats and dogs to cancer in dogs and laboratory animals.
In a Sept. 13 statement posted online, the AVMA said staff and member veterinarians are actively looking into the potential for electronic identification implants to induce tumors in dogs, cats, or people but must await more definitive data and test results before taking further action.
Considering how a large number of pets have been implanted with microchips with a relatively small number of confirmed cases of tumors associated with microchips, the AVMA advises against a rush to judgment on the technology.
In fact, there is a concern among veterinary medical researchers that some of the research into supposed chip-induced tumors may be flawed, because the animals used were genetically predisposed to cancer. In addition, removal of the chip is a more invasive procedure and not without potential complications.
The AVMA says it's clear a need exists for more scientific research into microchip technology.

SWGB

I whole heartedly agree. I was just seeing if anyone had anything on it. I have a tendancy to find the misinformation sites when I google.

Thanks

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John R

free, for bay county residents only?

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SWGB

I think it is just free in general. There website does not address it.

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