Pet Owners Warned to Check With Local Shelters Before Buying Pet ID Microchips; HSUS Calls for Development of Universal Scanners

3/25/2004

From: Belinda Mager of the Humane Society of the United States, 301-258-3071 or bmager@hsus.org

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and animal care and control organizations today cautioned pet owners that the nation's animal shelters may not have scanning devices that can detect the presence of certain pet identification microchips currently on the market. The incompatibility between scanners and microchips mean some micro- chipped animals entering shelters may not be properly identified.

"All pets should have some form of identification on them. Ideally, they should wear a collar and ID tag with current information that helps to easily facilitate the lost dog or cat being quickly reunited with his family," said Martha Armstrong, HSUS senior vice president for companion animals and equine protection. "Collars and ID tags can become lost where microchips offer a permanent and additional means of identification. But we are concerned that pet owners could have a false sense of security."

The warning comes as another company has entered the microchip market and is selling micro-chips in approximately 440 veterinary clinics housed in one of the nation's largest pet product retailers. Yet the company has not provided the end-users such as many of the nation's shelters, humane societies and veterinary hospitals with compatible scanners needed to detect the chips. As a result, the animal protection groups recommend that pet owners thinking about getting their pets micro-chipped contact both the chip manufacturer and their local shelter to make certain that compatible scanners are present in their community.

In a letter to microchip manufacturers, the groups applauded the technology as a valuable tool to increase the probability that lost pets will be reunited with their owners, but appealed to them to develop a truly universal scanner capable of detecting all microchips regardless of brand. In the letter, The HSUS offered to convene a summit of these manufacturers at HSUS offices to resolve the incompatibility issue nationally for the benefit of the animals.

"It is just common sense that all animal shelters be provided with the sufficient number of scanners needed to read the chips being implanted in pets," said Armstrong. "Local shelter personnel are already hard-pressed to meet the demands of animal care and control in their communities."

"Shelters should not have to expend additional resources to scan animals multiple times with multiple scanners just so the manufacturers can differentiate their products in the marketplace," said Bob Rohde, president of the Dumb Friends League based in Denver.

"Unless these companies come to an understanding and develop universal scanners, we cannot recommend that pet owners microchip their animals," said Armstrong.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than eight million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animals and sustainable agriculture. The HSUS protects all animals through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and fieldwork. The non-profit organization, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2004, is based in Washington, DC and has 10 regional offices across the country. On the web at http://www.hsus.org.