Reading Between the Microchips:

Coalition Calls for Scanners that Read all Chips to Help Reunite Lost Pets and Families

Leading U.S humane societies and veterinary organizations
call for removal of technical barrier

Washington, D.C. (August 5, 2004) — Caring families who microchip their pets to provide them with a permanent ID may have a false sense of security, according to a recently formed coalition of the nation’s leading animal care and control agencies, humane societies and veterinary organizations.

Why? Unfortunately, today, not all pet identification microchips can be read by all scanners. Competing technologies have become a barrier to the best efforts of animal shelter staff and veterinarians to reunite lost pets with their owners.

The recently formed Coalition for Reuniting Pets and Families is asking that chip and scanner manufacturers and marketers permit the use of a scanner that can read all microchips, and that such a scanner be made readily available to shelters, animal control officers and veterinarians throughout the country.

“Existing microchipping technologies have the potential to quickly and safely reunite lost dogs and cats with their families. But those who have primary contact with lost pets — veterinarians, animal control officers, and shelter staff — simply must have the ability to detect all identification chips with one scanner,” said Martha C. Armstrong, a spokesperson for the Coalition for Reuniting Pets and Families and a senior vice president for The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). “Today, unfortunately, a chip may be readable at your local shelter but not at the veterinarian’s office. This problem leads to missed reunions, a false peace of mind and many broken hearts.”

Eight to 10 million pets stray from their home each year in the United States, according to Sue Richey, executive director of the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) Companion Animal Recovery (CAR) program. Only a fraction of them are returned, despite the best efforts of shelters, animal control officers and veterinarians.

Currently, more than two million of the country’s dogs and cats have an implanted microchip that is intended to increase their chances of being identified if they are lost. Competing companies today supply chips with different frequencies that are not detected by all scanners.

Armstrong’s organization, The HSUS, after hearing from shelter staff and veterinarians across the U.S. regarding their frustrations with this conflict, convened a meeting July 9 in Washington, D.C., with various animal control agency, humane society and veterinary association leaders to press the microchip manufacturers and distributors for a solution. Teaming with The HSUS are the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the American Humane Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Society of Veterinary Medical Association Executives, the AKC Companion Animal Recovery, the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators and many other major animal shelters and humane societies across the country. The groups are calling for the distribution of scanners — capable of reading all chips and in sufficient number to equip all vehicles and sites — to animal shelters, animal control officers and veterinarians nationwide.

The Coalition unanimously supported sending a letter to all of the current distributors and manufacturers of microchips sold in the United States, urging them to resolve these issues. Additionally, the Coalition called on the manufacturers and distributors to consider The Iams Company’s proposal to donate 30,000 scanners that can read all chips. These scanners would be distributed to shelters, animal control officers and veterinarians throughout the United States. The Iams offer, valued at up to $5 million, is dependent on all current companion animal microchip manufacturers and distributors agreeing to embrace the mass scanner distribution.

The Coalition’s letter to all pet microchipping manufacturers and distributors asked them to support a more robust nationwide animal recovery system. The proposed system includes mass distribution of scanners that read all chips, establishment of an easily updated national database of microchipped pets and ongoing pet owner education about the need for registering microchipped pets and continuing to use external identifications (e.g., collar and tags, tattoos, etc.) to complement the chips.

“We’re thrilled that the veterinary, sheltering, and animal control communities have come together with such consensus to tackle this issue and seize this opportunity,” said Dr. Daniel Aja, president-elect of the American Animal Hospital Association. “This would be a great win for all: Pet owners would enjoy greater peace of mind; shelters, animal control officers and veterinarians would have a more efficient system to help pets find their way home; and pet microchip companies would realize increased sales with the increase in consumer confidence about the benefits the industry can provide.”