Finding Your Lost Pet -- The importance of microchipping

Finding Your Lost Pet

By Joanna Samson, FOTAS Board of Directors

As seen in the Aiken Standard on Jan. 19, 2014

On Monday, November 4^th of last year, a young German Shepherd named Bashka went missing in an area near Chukker Creek Road.  Although the dog was sighted in the area later that day, she continued to elude the efforts of her heartbroken owner to find her. 

Three days later, Elisa Denaberg, a friend of the owner’s, took steps to marshal the vast communication network of the incredibly animal-friendly Aiken community to find Bashka.  First she contacted Linda McLean, a Master of the Aiken Hounds, who emailed the hunt membership a BOLO (“be on the lookout “) for the pretty tan shepherd last seen in and around Anderson Pond Road.  Elisa also posted the same information on the Aiken Hounds Facebook Page.

Word spread.  Someone calls a friend, who calls another friend, who calls their sister, who tells someone else, who spots the dog at a local farm during a riding lesson – you know how it goes.  The search net got wider and wider.  

On Monday, one week after she went missing, Bashka was found through the collective efforts of friends, friends of friends, families of friends, acquaintances and total strangers and returned to her grateful owner.

Bashka was lucky – her owners and their friends were quick to take advantage of the community network to bring her home. 

But what if your pet is not so lucky?  What can you do to increase the odds that your beloved pet will be found and returned home?

The answer is: microchip your pet.  The microchip system of pet identification has evolved in response to the thousands of pets and their owners who were separated by the fury and destruction of Hurricane Katrina.

The microchip is programmed with a unique identification number that is registered to the pet’s owner.  The microchip, which is about the size of a grain of rice, is implanted in the loose skin between the shoulder blades of the pet by way of a painless injection.  

If a stray animal is picked up, the animal control officers (or any veterinarian) can scan the animal with a hand held reader, retrieve the identification number, check the microchip registry database and if - and this is very important – if the owner has properly registered the microchip so that all contact information is current, the pet can be promptly returned home.

Aiken County’s Animal Control Officer, Bobby Arthurs, believes in microchipping.

“When we pick up an animal,” says Arthurs, “we scan it immediately.  If there is a microchip, and the owner’s registration is current, we can contact the owners and take the animal home right away. The pet does not have to be taken to the shelter and processed, saving the owners and pets a lot of heartache and stress.” 

The national statistics regarding the return of microchipped pets support Arthurs’ belief.  According to a 2009 article in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association, a study of 7700 stray animals at animal shelters showed that only 22% of dogs without microchips were returned to their owners, compared to about 52% of the dogs with microchips.  Only 1.8% of cats without microchips were reunited with their owners, compared to about 39% of cats with microchips.

So here’s the takeaway: you should microchip your pet.  

The Aiken County Animal Shelter will microchip your pet for only $23 (Aiken City Animal Control and the SPCA have a similar program).

Once you have microchipped your pet, be sure to register it with the company who manufactured the chip.

If you have previously registered your pet, be certain to keep your contact information current.

Microchipping is easy, painless and inexpensive.  But most important, it can save your pet’s life and save you the anguish of losing your special friend.

FOTAS Volunteers work with the AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, 411 Wire Road.  For more information, contact “info@fotasaiken.org” or visit FOTAS on line at www.fotasaiken.org.

Aiken County Animal Shelter:  “By the Numbers”

Jan. 6, 2014 - Jan. 11, 2014

16 dogs and 0 cats adopted

Year to Date:  

33 terrific pets adopted

THANK YOU AIKEN COUNTY COMMUNITY!

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!” 

**All adoption fees include:  spay/neuter, heartworm test, all shots, worming, and microchip.

ELTON JOHN   Lab/retriever mix,  male, 2 yrs old, 28 lbs  Only $70 

RIHANNA  Domestic short hair kitten -- female --5 mos. old, 10 lbs  Only $35

Community Decides Animal Control or Animal Advocacy

by JOYA DISTEFANO

The County Shelter’s Half-Price Special continues until September 14th.  

Here’s what $35 will do for those who take advantage:

Come before 11 any M, W, F or Sat and a FOTAS volunteer will assist you in choosing the right animal for your lifestyle. 

The pet you select will have all shots, rabies vaccine, be spayed or neutered, and have a micro-chip.

You will leave with love and the knowledge that you have saved a precious life. (Remember, dogs are pack animals; two are better than one.)

If you go to the shelter for your new dog, one of the things you may notice is that there are a number of dogs that look like they are part “Pitt.”  One reason for this is that our transfer partners will typically not take them.  The other reason is that they are victims of the latest breed prejudice fad in our country.

Consider what one Pitt Bull Advocacy group put out in response to Breed-Specific Legislation (BSL):  “In a recent study of 122 dog breeds, by the American Temperament Society (ATTS), Pit Bulls achieved a high passing rate of 83.9, compared to the 77% score of the general dog population.

Although BSL currently often indirectly refers to Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes, the targeted breed appears to change every decade. In the ’70s it was the Dobermans;  in the ’80s, the German Shepherds. It’s been the Pit Bulls for the last couple of decades, which only adds to the huge number of Pit Bulls that end up in shelters.”

Take last week’s “Patsy,” as an example.  She is a volunteer favorite.  She is smart, affectionate, great with other dogs, even puppies!  But she is still there, solely because of her breed.

Here are basic facts for Aiken County Animal Control FY2013 (excluding Aiken and North Augusta): 4,794 animals were received by the county shelter and 1,800 were saved, through adoption (798), transfer (783), or returned to owner (219).  The monthly average is 400 with 67 adoptions, 65 transfers, and 18 returned to owners.  More than two of every three animals do not leave the County Shelter alive.

Numerous efforts are underway since FOTAS was founded four years ago.  Together with the tiny, dedicated County Shelter staff, FOTAS volunteers help make the best matches possible between adoptable pets and their prospective owners.  The Foster Care Program saves most of the savable puppies. The transfer program decreases length- of-stay and saves some otherwise doomed candidates. 

The County Animal Control Officers work directly with the community trying to keep impoundment the last resort wherever possible.  They disseminate spay/neuter information; identify and refer hardship cases that just need a little temporary help to be responsible pet owners.

The local veterinarians and the SPCA Albrecht Center offer reduced fees, pro-bono services, and low-cost essential services like vaccines, heartworm tests and spay/neuter surgeries. 

Government’s responsibility is animal control; a community’s responsibility is animal advocacy, especially our community. Adopt from our shelter; spay/neuter; promote animal well-being, donate time or money, please.

A retired organizational problem-solver and radical educator, Joya Jiménez DiStefano is an artist, Servant Leader, and co-founder of FOTAS, Inc.

FOTAS Volunteers work with the AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, 411 Wire Road.  For more information, contact “info@fotasaiken.org” or visit FOTAS on line at www.fotasaiken.org.

Aiken County Animal Shelter:  “By the Numbers” 

August 26^th thru 31^th 2013

Received:       37 dogs and 44 cats

Adopted:        8 dogs and 4 cats

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!” HALF PRICE thru 9/14!

ROSE -  Baby. Silver with blue eyes. Adorable. All of her for only $35.       

HEIDI  – 1.5 yrs. 40 lbs.  One blue eye and a real dog-lover’s doll! ONLY $35!

*All adoption fees include: Spay/Neuter, heartworm test, all shots, worming, and microchip.