To be micro-chipped or not??

[Lauren & Ankur Pandya]

I would love thoughts on puppies being micro-chipped. 

[Miss Ellie]

Honestly I wouldn't feel comfortable without it...it is just a peace of mind thing for me.

[Kelly & Zoe]

We did Zoe when she was spayed since they were going to operate on her anyway.  Definitely have peace of mind with it.

[Abigail *George & Juno*]

We did it. We didn't even think twice or weigh pros and cons or anything. We don't ever plan on letting her out of our sight at all, but for $30-40 its a no brainer for us. Our breeder offered it. We were there when she placed it, our puppy didn't even whine (she whined a little with vaccines). We didn't want to wait until spay surgery, she's got lots of adventures to go on with us before she's 6 months old! :)

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

I can't imagine not having my gang micro-chipped. Everyone checks for them nowadays on stray pets so it greatly increases the chances that, should one of these guys get out, I'll be able to find him again.

I recently picked up a sweet older lab who was wandering along one of our main roads here in town - took her straight to the closest vet to have her scanned for a chip as she wasn't wearing a collar. No chip, sadly. My gut feeling was that someone would be getting home from work and hunting for their dog, so I asked my vet if she could look after her for the afternoon as I was on my lunch break - nope, with no tag and no microchip there was no warm-fuzzy that she'd been vaccinated either so my vet wouldn't hold her. I wasn't excited about taking her to my home either for exactly the same reason. I had to go back to work so, reluctantly, I dropped her by our local Animal Control.

The story has a happy-ish ending: I also dropped a "found" ad on Craigslist with my cell phone number and, sure enough, lab's dad got home from work to find a gate open. Lab got to go home, but dad got at least two lectures on micro-chipping. Hopefully he got the message.

[Helga, Nimbus, Sierra, Clooney]

I just had it done when he was neutered last week. Makes me feel a lot better. Nimbus doesn't wear a collar inside. I don't want his hair pulled all the time. So if he ever got out, if would be more likely to get him back.

[Brittney & Cally]

 YES! It is an extra security. I also had MICROCHIPPED written on Callys name tag. Cally actually came microchipped from the breeder, as standard for her puppies, and I am so glad she did.

[Dynamite & Doodle]

Yes, Darwin also came microchipped from the breeder although it was placed by the vet.

[Debbie & Gibbs]

My Doodle came chipped from the Breeder using Avid. I have 3 Westie's that are chipped with Home Again, I will always chip every dog I have.

[Abigail *George & Juno*]

Ours is chipped with avid. Is there a difference at all? I know with avid we had to pay to register her chip as well, is there any difference in how they work?

[Debbie & Gibbs]

My doodle was chipped by the breeder with Avid. My Westie's are chipped with Home Again. If think if I had a choice I would have chipped with Home Again because my 3 other dogs are already in that data base. I do like it that Home Again has you upload a photo and you can add any identifying marks or medical issues with your dogs. I pay an annual fee to upgrade their service in the event that they are lost are stolen then send out broadcasts I think within 100 miles, but would need to double check their website. Anyway, I'm very happy with Home Again and you can also order nice looking tags for their collars.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Why in the world wouldn't you????  Unless of course, you are thinking of a Tattoo or something similar?  Every animal I own is micro-chipped.  I would do anything humanly possible to prevent Enzo from getting lost or stolen.  This is just one more precaution one can take.

If you haven't already looked into it....Yes, the needle is a long one...the chip itself, about the size of a grain of rice.  Enzo was done when she was spayed...but I have had other dogs and cats done while they were fully awake.  Not a one of them ever knew what was going on, and didn't show they felt a thing.Easy Peasy!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

When microchips first came out, my vet wasn't that much in favor of them because he said no one was looking for the chips...  well, we've come a long way baby!  Chips are important as they help YOU recover your lost dog. Don't ever think your dog can't get out of your yard or suddenly take off after a critter.  In my area it is the law.