We microchip our pets for a reason but when one is lost or stolen there is no failsafe against the theives or people who find our pets and just want to keep them for themselves.
Too many animals are being lost and stolen and not reunited with their rightful owners. We aim to make vets a part of the reunification process as a standard part of the registering a new pet process. we appreciate that there are SOME vets who do this already but not enough.
Nine years ago, one of my British Shorthair cats was stolen from my back garden, she was chipped and I kept hoping that one day I might be reunited with her. Fortunately, albeit very belatedly, one day 4 years later I received a call from a local vet saying that they had my cat, someone had seen her being attacked by a dog, managed to rescue her and whizz her off to a local vet. Unfortunately, they were unable to do anything to save her but they scanned her chip and notified me. I was broken hearted all over again but I am able to say that now I know her fate no matter how terrible but whoever had been looking after her for the previous 4 years (be they the original thief or some unsuspecting person who bought her from them) will never know what happened to her.
Vets should, as standard procedure, scan all animals for microchips that have not previously been seen by them, in order to weed out lost and stolen pets. If the person presenting with the animal cannot produce documents proving that the chip is registered in their name, then the chip number should be investigated with the database holders and if proven to not belong to the presenting person, appropriate action taken to reunite the animal with their correct family.
Had the practice we are aiming to make standard been in place back when my cat was stolen, the very first time her new 'keeper' had taken her to a vet for a vaccination or any other type of treatment, I would have been reunited with her, saving me years of heartache. This is basically all we want, not only for the peace of mind of the owners but for the safety and happiness of the pet(s) in question.
