Advice for vets

 

Every year thousands of dogs run away, get lost or are stolen.  Many of these dogs are microchipped and many of them are reunited with their owners because of that.  But some are not reunited, as their chips are not checked or, if read, are not checked against a database held by the chipping companies.

   

For example:  In January 2004 a lady adopted a Labrador* from an animal sanctuary, she was shocked to find on a routine visit to her vets to have him micro chipped that her new dog was already chipped, he was then reunited with his owners who had lost him in a burglary the previous November.  Had she not decided to have him chipped her vet would never have scanned or cross checked this dog's identity.

 

 

Please consider scanning every new dog brought for treatment at your surgery, regardless of the age of the dog and regardless of how well you know the owner. And then checking any chip found with the company's database.

 

Some dogs are stolen as puppies and are sold on to innocent owners who would be only too happy to return the puppy to its rightful home if only they had the chance. 

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this.  Hopefully you will understand that this small piece of extra work on our part could save a huge amount of heartache for a grieving owner.

 

*You can read Louis's story on the Dogs Lost website

 

For more information of lost, stolen and found dogs please visit the Dogs Lost website or call Dogs Lost on 01909 733 366.