What Good are Micro Chips and Tattoos?? - Page 1

Micro Chips are sold by Veterinarians who make a profit from it, monitored by the AKC that makes a profit, worn by the dog that didn't want it, recorded and paid for by the owner that feels some what protected by having it installed, and yet when a dog is lost or stolen, and the vets are notified, none of the Vets voluntarily scan every dog that comes in or checks and records the micro chip number, so if the finder or thief brings in a dog with a chip, no one will ever know it is a stolen dog.  Same scenario for an ear or body tattoos, no vets ever check them and record the numbers as a matter of admittance.  Therefore: the thief will never be caught and the owner will never know their dog is living right next door or in the next county over, nor will the finder or thief ever tell them. 

I propose a law that requires all Vets, and all vet hospitals to mandatory scan and record every dog that comes in, every time it comes there.  Just like, you have to give your insurance number and social security number to the hospital when you come in for a doctor's appointment.  Other wise, what good are tattoos and microchips, except for shelters that have a no kill rule?  And how do the Vet's compensate for all the money they are making off of the chips and tattoos?

Comments?

 My vet does check microchips. I guess some do, some don't. At trials dogs are checked for microchip numbers and/or tattoos. OK, say your tattoo'd and microchipped dog gets stolen by someone who takes it to a vet in the next state that doesn't check: you are SOL. You're right about that.

How would you propose to enforce such a law? Or are you assuming that vets are law-abiding folks who would just always obey? Would there be enforcement checks? Who would do them? What should the vet do if a dog comes in and the chip doesn't list the person who brought the dog in? What happens then?

And how would you get such a law passed in your state legislature? Do you know who would be lined up pro and con? How would you convince your representative to sponsor such a law? What if the thief crosses state lines? Would you want to get a federal law passed? And you'd go about that how?

Vets may or may not check tattoos and microchips, but most shelters, pounds and rescues do.  We had a dog discussed on this board several months ago who was in a rescue and because of his tattoo he was identified by his breeder and placed in a home.  He was a trained dog, and would have been euthanized for "cage aggression".   Microchips are also good definitive identification of a do in the case of a dispute. 

My experience is that animals that are brought in to vets as lost are scanned and shelters, at least in this area, definitely scan.  I think their purpose, aside from proving registration for breeding, is to assist when an animal is lost. 

Would it be nice for all vets to scan unknown animals, I guess, but what if they find a stolen animal.  Refuse treatment?  I don’t want that happening, even if my dog is stolen.  Take the dog back?  Are animal hospitals prepared to do that?  What if force is required?  What if boarding is required until the owner can be reached?  What if the owner can’t take the dog back?  Would that drive up the cost of vet care?  None of us need that.

Kudos!  All valid questions that would require solutions or answers.  Interstate Federal Law I'll admit I had not thought of, but like everything else, there is a simple solution if there are enough people behind getting it done.  Albite; what if you go across a state line and need a doctor or operation?  Don't they still ask for your identification?  If you give them false ID and they find out you lied, what do they do?  What happens if a doctor dispenses medicine without getting identification for the person?  Does it cost extra for our medical bills if a Drug addict shows up at a hospital and lies about his name, age, and address to obtain drugs?  Some of these questions are easy to solve, and as far as who is for getting behind these laws and helping establish some control, you would be first in line if someone stole your dog and you checked every vet and shelter in 1000 mile radius and no one heard or found anything, and then you realized that they don't check anything either, but you know your dog was chipped and tattooed and need periodic medical attention.  In short, as soon as it happens to you, you would be all for it.  Why not get behind it before it happens and maybe it will help get your dog back.  Doesn't  it bother anybody else when you realize your paying for a near scam that has little if any help for what it was designed to do?

My vet checks & records at every visit. jh