Micro-chipped pet returns home: one year later

Zeus the Maltese finally made it home to his family, one year after disappearing from his yard. His family and their friends and neighbors searched the area, but after several months, they figured that Zeus was gone. Amazingly, he was found by the local animal control, scruffy and wandering the streets one year later.
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The key to matching up pet and family? The $15 microchip that Zeus was implanted with as a puppy. What is a microchip? This is a grain-of-rice sized "ID tag" that is implanted with a needle under the skin over the shoulder blades (scapulae).

A special scanner available at animal shelters, veterinary offices and many animal organizations, scans the chip for the chip ID number. The main information is kept in a central registry, so keeping your info up to date with the registry database is important.

A regular tag is also issued for the animal to wear on a collar in addition to the microchip. No anesthesia is necessary; most animals act as if they received a vaccination.

Most animal shelters offer or require micro-chipping of adopted pets, and many veterinarians microchip, too. In addition to finding lost pets, microchips can also help solve ownership disputes. Microchips work, and offer another piece of mind for keeping your pet safe and where they belong.

Related story in the news:
Micro-chipped Golden Retriever returns after 9 months
From Tampa Bay Online
This dog was scared by fireworks last Christmas.

Related Reading:
Lost Pets: Proper ID is Key to Preventing Lost Pets

_{Photo: Microchip in a cat © Joel Mills}