Is a Microchip Worth the Cost?
Saturday October 4, 2008
Janet posted to the Betsy Finds a New Home Blog:
I have a question about the microchip since I am considering doing this for my cats. If she was microchipped the owner’s name was surely listed even if the address was out of date. Couldn’t the new people living at the address pass on info such as the landlord or realtor to the vet’s office to find them? Or perhaps a google search for them? It just seems odd that in this day of technology an out of date address would prevent the kitty from being reunited with her people. I ask these things because I want to determine if the microchip service is worth the money. I would be devastated to lose one of my “kids.”Betsy, I think you've overlooked the main point. Although I didn't post all the details, it had been 7 years since Bitsy was registered at the last address. All possible means had been exerted to find Betsy's original owners, probably more than most people would do.
To answer your question more succinctly, "No, a microchip isn't worth the cost unless you keep all the information current with the service, including changes of address."
Here's a good example: Dr. Janet Crosby, About.com Veterinary Medicine Guide just posted the story of a dog who was found a year after his disappearance, thanks to his microchip . Of course, had his owners moved in the meantime without notifying the microchip service, this dog might be in the same situation Betsy found herself in.
More on Lost Cats and Microchipping
Comments
How much can a microchip cost that it wouldn’t be worth getting!? Even if you’ve moved , at least SOMEONE will be notified if your cat goes missing and is found.
Microchips are a great idea, but strays need to be scanned (most vets shouldn’t charge for this) and lots of people don’t update their details! I found a cat this April who had been missing for five years. He had been chipped, but when one of his previous owners was traced, they didn’t want him back. We’ve kept him and love him very much, but it’s a shame that his chip didn’t help him find his way home.