What is the purpose of microchipping a pet, if ..UPDATE in original post

[lynxstch]

noone calls you when the microchip is scanned? Isn't that the purpose of one..to notify someone??
My husband is a resident counselor in a group home for mentally/physically challenged adults..they have 3 cats as pets..3 weeks ago, one of them (Lucy) went missing..they checked everywhere, and then gave up hope of finding her, figuring that someone must have taken her home, as she was such a friendly cat and would climb in your car and go to sleep!
They checked the animal shelter, and didn't find anything..yesterday, in the paper, in the animal shelter ad, was a picture of a cat..female, named Lucy, 5 years old, neutered, microchipped, current on all shots and negative for feline leukemia..ad said to come in or call to adopt her, but they are closed till Tues..I called yesterday and got a voice mail, left a message for them to call me (figuring someone had to come in to feed the animals, even on a holiday?)..but noone has yet..we don't want to say anything to any of the house residents, don't wanna get their hopes up just in case it's not the same Lucy, even though all signs point to it!
What I am questioning, is why noone called the group home to ask if they were missing a cat?..they went to the expense of having her microchipped for a reason, but instead the animal shelter chooses to put her up for adoption?..just a little peeved here!..now we have to wait till Tues for hubby to go up there and find out if it's really their missing Lucy!
Please cross all your DIS fingers and send pixie dust that Lucy gets returned to the 5 guys in the house as an early Xmas present!




Sad to say, it's not our missing Lucy, the cat in person looked nothing like the picture, and the cat they have is a lot younger than the 5 years old they listed her as!..she looks more like a calico than a tiger!...so the search and praying continues that the group home's Lucy will still be found..or come back on her own..we all worry about her with the cold /snow coming..thanks for all your well wishes, and Happy Holidays to all you DIS'ers and your furbabies..keep them safe and well!

 

[jx3smom]

That really sounds messed up. Hope Lucy returns home very soon.

 

[Imzadi]

If that had happened to MY cat, they'd better hope they don't have her and then put her up for adoption without contacting me first.

But, there is a possibility that the contact info on the microchip records is incorrect. Who remembers to update pet microchips? Maybe the phone number at the group home has been changed and they can't get through. Maybe the contact person listed, from 5 years ago, no longer works at the center.

A person could have called up asking for "Jane Doe" and was told Jane Doe hasn't worked there in 4 years. Thinking the cat belongs to Jane and not the whole home, the person might have thought they reached a dead end.

I'd be calling every few hours and leaving all sorts of messages. You don't want the one message you left to accidentally be by-passed. They might have gotten a number of calls for people asking to adopt Lucy. They might have stopped listening to WHOLE messages, once they think they found someone to adopt Lucy. I'd start a message with, "You have our cat, Lucy. I want to know when I can pick her up."

Also, I'd be leaving notes on their door, in their mailbox, stuffed under the door, the back door (for the person who feeds them,) signaling they have my cat. If you have any pictures proving what she looks like, include them. mention she has been microchipped and they know it.

If you can find an email address, send an email. Again, include a picture. I'd harrass them until they gave me my cat back. The sooner, the better.

 

[Disney Doll]

Is the animal sheltter run by your town? Cal the police if it is...maybe they can get a hold of the dog warden.

 

[golfgal]

Maybe they did call and either couldn't get through or had incorrect information to contact whomever?

 

[safetymom]

I know once when I found a pet with tags I called the animal clinic. They hadn't updated their information. Thankfully they put up a notice in our plan and I was able to return the dog.

 

[tiggger1]

Did the group home actually register the cats id number with the microschip company? When I got my kittens done, they sent me home with 2 tags that I needed to go online and register my address...

also there are 2-3 different chip readers. 1 of them reads all chips but it is super expensive, the other 2 only reads THEIR own chips...those are cheaper so, so they might not have actually read your chip and they might have just re chipped them.

 

[Imzadi]

How did the animal shelter know the cat's name is Lucy? Did she have a tag of some sort? If not, they must have gotten it off the microchip.

 

[Nolcrest]

Also, the microchip is only good if the owner actually registered the information. A microchipped pet doesn't automatically mean contact information is available.

 

[lynxstch]

If that had happened to MY cat, they'd better hope they don't have her and then put her up for adoption without contacting me first.

But, there is a possibility that the contact info on the microchip records is incorrect. Who remembers to update pet microchips? Maybe the phone number at the group home has been changed and they can't get through. Maybe the contact person listed, from 5 years ago, no longer works at the center.

A person could have called up asking for "Jane Doe" and was told Jane Doe hasn't worked there in 4 years. Thinking the cat belongs to Jane and not the whole home, the person might have thought they reached a dead end.

I'd be calling every few hours and leaving all sorts of messages. You don't want the one message you left to accidentally be by-passed. They might have gotten a number of calls for people asking to adopt Lucy. They might have stopped listening to WHOLE messages, once they think they found someone to adopt Lucy. I'd start a message with, "You have our cat, Lucy. I want to know when I can pick her up."

Also, I'd be leaving notes on their door, in their mailbox, stuffed under the door, the back door (for the person who feeds them,) signaling they have my cat. If you have any pictures proving what she looks like, include them. mention she has been microchipped and they know it.

If you can find an email address, send an email. Again, include a picture. I'd harrass them until they gave me my cat back. The sooner, the better.

then all the information they have is still correct..the group home has always had the same phone #...the contact person is one of the guys who lived there 5 years ago and still does! as to whether or not the microchip was registered..I don't know..my husband didn't work there 5 years ago..but as you say, how would they know her name was Lucy unless it was on the chip..they also know she's neutered, that she's had all her shots, etc...a lot of information to have ..and to not have a contact # seems dumb to me!..maybe they just didn't bother!

I just mentioned to my husband that leaving a note on their door tomorrow morning when he goes to work is a good idea (the group home is only 1 street down from the animal shelter!) in case a lot of people have called and want to adopt her..I also told him that he better be at the shelter door at 9 am on Tues. morning to claim her if she IS the same cat..he does have pictures at the home that he can take..
Thanks for all the good wishes..we are keeping our fingers crossed that it IS Lucy and that she will be reunited with her extended family at the home for the holidays!

 

[golfgal]

Any chance someone from the group home brought her in to the shelter for some reason???

 

[hiwaygal]

Not all microchips use the same readers.

It is entirely possible that the chip in Lucy cannot be read by the scanner/reader that the shelter has. Are you sure the shelter has a microchip reader? It's also possible that the chip was not necessarily placed in a 'common' location and the shelter people couldn't find or read it. Chips are not perfect and mistakes can still happen.

The rescue group I worked with always encouraged collar tags in addition to microchips.

The only thing that is odd is that they did know her name.

Regardless, I hope Lucy finds her way home soon.

 

[Imzadi]

Any chance someone from the group home brought her in to the shelter for some reason???

Now that would be a drama and a half!

Not all microchips use the same readers.

It is entirely possible that the chip in Lucy cannot be read by the scanner/reader that the shelter has. Are you sure the shelter has a microchip reader? It's also possible that the chip was not necessarily placed in a 'common' location and the shelter people couldn't find or read it. Chips are not perfect and mistakes can still happen.

If they couldn't read the chip, it is odd that they know her name & all the info.

More than likely the file they made with her info went in the wrong pile, the "Adopt out" file versus the "Call owner" file.

 

[quentina]

Well, if your like me, you microchip and don't realize you need to pay a fee and register the chip number.

My dog was microchipped for quite a few months and a friend said....how much does it cost a year? I believed it was included and the vet took care of everything.

If you let the membership lapse, there will be no call etc.

 

[lynxstch]

Any chance someone from the group home brought her in to the shelter for some reason???

she's the friendliest and most loved of the 3 cats..noone brought her to the shelter!

 

[lynxstch]

Not all microchips use the same readers.

It is entirely possible that the chip in Lucy cannot be read by the scanner/reader that the shelter has. Are you sure the shelter has a microchip reader? It's also possible that the chip was not necessarily placed in a 'common' location and the shelter people couldn't find or read it. Chips are not perfect and mistakes can still happen.

The rescue group I worked with always encouraged collar tags in addition to microchips.

The only thing that is odd is that they did know her name.

Regardless, I hope Lucy finds her way home soon.

It says right in their ad...Lucy is microchipped..so they could find it..and they knew her name was Lucy and that she had her shots and had been neutered..so they HAD to be able to read it somehow!

 

[Magic Mom]

It says right in their ad...Lucy is microchipped..so they could find it..and they knew her name was Lucy and that she had her shots and had been neutered..so they HAD to be able to read it somehow!

I don't think the microchip will tell if she's spayed and had shots. They could tell about the spaying on their own and probably gave her routine shots.

 

[Tiggernut_jadie]

I think it's probably a different cat. Chances are that the Lucy in the rescue centre has been given up by someone or her owner has died hence why they have so much information about her. As a PP said the microchip only has info about the animal's name and contact details it wouldn't say if the cart was up to date with it's shots etc. However a cat that had been given up for rehoming may well have that information as the rescue centre would have been given the info along with the cat.

 

[Carly_Roach]

They checked the animal shelter, and didn't find anything..yesterday, in the paper, in the animal shelter ad, was a picture of a cat..female, named Lucy, 5 years old, neutered, microchipped, current on all shots and negative for feline leukemia..ad said to come in or call to adopt her, but they are closed till Tues

OK, first of all don't panic. Lucy has been missing for three weeks and it's good to know that she's now in a nice warm building being fed. Since they're closed until Tuesday, she likely wouldn't be adopted out until then anyway.

If they have a night slot, then I'd recommend dropping off a letter letting them know that their Lucy is your Lucy and you'll be picking her up bright and early Tuesday morning. Be prepared to pay boarding fees.

As for why they didn't contact you in the first place, who knows? If they called the vet to get all her medical records then it would stand to reason that they would have asked to get your home phone number from the vet. If they didn't call the vet and went by their own examination, then it's possible that they tried the number that was recorded when Lucy was first given the chip and didn't get an answer. That first recording has her name, shots and whether or not she was spayed, but it may have an old address or phone number. The feline leukemia would have been determined by a shelter doctor.

Why they didn't call you doesn't matter right now. You can't change the past. Just note it and move on.

Calling the shelter every two or three hours won't likely do any good. Nor would filling up their machine or voice mail with frantic calls. Calling once or twice (or once each day) will let them know they have an anguished family member who's desperate to get their pet back. If the shelter is closed until Tuesday, that's when you'll get her back.

Besides, even if you luckily ran into someone who came in to clean the cages and walk the dogs, they wouldn't be able to release Lucy to you anyway unless they had the authority to complete the paperwork that this action would entail.

If it were me, I'd make it a point to go over there in person a few times during business hours on Monday. If the doors were locked and the lights were out, I'd be there first thing Tuesday morning with my checkbook or cash to spring my beloved Lucy out.

 

[lynxstch]

OK, first of all don't panic. Lucy has been missing for three weeks and it's good to know that she's now in a nice warm building being fed. Since they're closed until Tuesday, she likely wouldn't be adopted out until then anyway.



That's what I said to my husband last nite, at least we know that sh's warm and dry and safe!..

If they have a night slot, then I'd recommend dropping off a letter letting them know that their Lucy is your Lucy and you'll be picking her up bright and early Tuesday morning. Be prepared to pay boarding fees.

He took a letter this morning to tape to the door or slide under it..in a ziploc bag in case the door is only open to the outdoor elements..and yes, we know the group home may have to pay to get her back..small price to pay!

As for why they didn't contact you in the first place, who knows? If they called the vet to get all her medical records then it would stand to reason that they would have asked to get your home phone number from the vet. If they didn't call the vet and went by their own examination, then it's possible that they tried the number that was recorded when Lucy was first given the chip and didn't get an answer. That first recording has her name, shots and whether or not she was spayed, but it may have an old address or phone number. The feline leukemia would have been determined by a shelter doctor.

Why they didn't call you doesn't matter right now. You can't change the past. Just note it and move on.

Calling the shelter every two or three hours won't likely do any good. Nor would filling up their machine or voice mail with frantic calls. Calling once or twice (or once each day) will let them know they have an anguished family member who's desperate to get their pet back. If the shelter is closed until Tuesday, that's when you'll get her back.

I am NOT calling the shelter every 2 or 3 hours..I called once..on Thursday right after we got the paper!..I figure they aren't gonna bother checking their machine till Tues anyhow..even if they are there to feed the animals!


Besides, even if you luckily ran into someone who came in to clean the cages and walk the dogs, they wouldn't be able to release Lucy to you anyway unless they had the authority to complete the paperwork that this action would entail.

Yes, I know..that's why he took the letter this morning and will arrange for someone to be at their door at 9 on Tues morning!

If it were me, I'd make it a point to go over there in person a few times during business hours on Monday. If the doors were locked and the lights were out, I'd be there first thing Tuesday morning with my checkbook or cash to spring my beloved Lucy out.

Their ad states they are closed till Tues for the holiday..but you better believe that Tues morning they better have that door open at 9..lol!

Thanks for the advice..if it were my OWN beloved cats..I would probably be a bit more aggressive in my approach, but it's not mine, but I know the 5 guys who live in that home would all be very happy to see Lucy back with Eileen and Plunger (the other 2 cats) , where she belongs!