Agenda - 02-12-2013 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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27 %I Appendix C Summary of Data Search Microchips and Stray Cats and Dogs: 1. Lord LIB, Ingwersen W, Gray JL, Wintz, DJ. Characterization of animals with microchips entering animal shelters. JAm Yet Med Asso 2009; 235: 160 -167. 2. "Microchips Result in High Rate of Return of Shelter Animals to owners." Research News, The Ohio State University. (Both articles were about the same study.) a. 7,704 microchipped animals entering 53 animal shelters between 512007 and 312008 were assessed. Of these, 4,083 (53 %) were strays. b. In all, owners were found for 72.7% of microchipped animals. Among those found, 73.9% of the owners wanted the animals back in their homes. c. Return to owner rates for cats were 20 times higher and for dogs 2.5 times higher for microchipped pets than were the rates of return for all stray cats and dogs that entered the shelters. d. The ability to find owners was higher for dogs, animals that were purebred, and animals that were spayed or neutered. e. on average, only 1.8% of all stray dogs and cats taken to shelters have microchips. f. Reasons why owners were not found for microchipped animals: i. 3 5.4 %: incorrect or disconnected phone ii. 24.3 %-, owner failure to return calls or respond to letters iii. 9.8 %: unregistered microchips iv. 17.2 %: microchips registered in a database that differed from the manufacturer g. The U.S. is the only country in which the implantation of a microchip is often treated as a separate process from registration with a microchip registry. we need to focus on not separating the microchip implantation process from registration. when shelters implant microchips, they need to tell an adopter how it works and make sure information is in the registry before the animal leaves the building. h. The highest percentage of owners was found through the use of information in the animal shelter databases. This is largely attributable to the fact that personnel at animal shelters were likely to have originally implanted most of the animals with microchips that enter their facilities. i. Emphasis on the importance of scanning animals more than one time for microchips. Scanners do not have 100% sensitivity in detecting or reading microchips. Microchips also migrate. Therefore, scanning protocols at animal shelters should include scanning at various routine times during animal handling, such as at entry, during medical evaluations, and prior to euthanasia. j. The estimated cost to implant and register a microchip ranges from @$25.00-$75.00 (2009).