Who is the owner of the dog?

[dainerra]

My first question would be "why not microchip?" collar with tags are easily removed or lost. I've even heard of tattooed ears being cut off - that's why they recommend that you tattoo on the inner thigh.

The microchip is a good way to settle disputes and to prove ownership IF NECESSARY. That doesn't meant hat vets or even Animal Control (sadly) will scan for them. Here, our animal control doesn't routinely scan even though they ONLY collect dogs without collar/tags.

 

[redhen]

Microchips work if they are brought in to be scanned..otherwise useless.
This lady didn't want to find the owner...

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

For religious reasons, no way I am sticking a chip in my dogs when I think its wrong to do it to my self.

 

[dainerra]

rebelcowboy, sounds like a good reason to me. It just really limits your ability to identify your dog if he's lost. I end up replacing my dogs' tags every few months because they lose them - I wouldn't count on tags to ID them if they were lost.
Also, sadly, the most common way that people check tags in my experience is to take them off the dog so they can read them better. If the dog way to run get away from them, the dog now has no collar/tags.
Your dog has no concept of keeping ID. You can also add almost unlimited amounts of other info. For example, mine contains authorization for anyone who finds him to take him to the vet if he is injured and that I will pay for it. It links to 6 different phone numbers that I can change at any time - if I go on vacation or am traveling. It contains contact info for his vet in case they need medical records.

 

[Matthew3590]

rebelcowboy, sounds like a good reason to me. It just really limits your ability to identify your dog if he's lost. I end up replacing my dogs' tags every few months because they lose them - I wouldn't count on tags to ID them if they were lost.
Also, sadly, the most common way that people check tags in my experience is to take them off the dog so they can read them better. If the dog way to run get away from them, the dog now has no collar/tags.
Your dog has no concept of keeping ID. You can also add almost unlimited amounts of other info. For example, mine contains authorization for anyone who finds him to take him to the vet if he is injured and that I will pay for it. It links to 6 different phone numbers that I can change at any time - if I go on vacation or am traveling. It contains contact info for his vet in case they need medical records.

The only chip I have seen or even a vet recommended was 60 dollars to implant and a continued 15 dollars a month payment or the chip stops working.

 

[redhen]

The only chip I have seen or even a vet recommended was 60 dollars to implant and a continued 15 dollars a month payment or the chip stops working.

Yeah.. thats kinda the problem..

 

[cupman]

I really think it is one of those things where hind's sight is 20/20. It is a pesky fee and even more irritating that it is monthly.. but when you lose your dog how do you feel? You would pay anything to have them back in your arms. It's a lot like insurance, not to start that debate, but seems like once you finally DO need it that you really wished you would have had it all along. As far as not subjugating your animals to an implant because of tracking I really wonder about that.. humans tracking an animal versus humans tracking other humans is 100% different. Imagine how your dog might feel if he gets spooked by fireworks and runs deep into the woods, gets lost in momentary panic.. wouldn't you want to ensure some type of safety net to reunite your pet with you? I am sure the panic the dog feels being lost from its owner would outweigh the dog's fear of being tracked by the vets.

I don't care one way or another if you have your dogs chipped, that's just my take on the scenario.

Also, rebelcowboy, this is mostly a joke but you say "no way I am sticking a chip in my dogs when I think its wrong to do it to my self." and I must ask if you have ever had your dogs neutered.

 

[oesdog]

For religious reasons, no way I am sticking a chip in my dogs when I think its wrong to do it to my self.

I have never read "do not Microchip your dog " in my bible>? However I take your point. I would just make sure my dogs Id number didn't end in 666!!!!
Remember Dog is God backwards!
Oes

 

[oesdog]

I is a legal requirement here that ALL our dogs are Microchiped or you cannot get your dog licenced. It is therefor a stray and could be distroyed. That is why we ended up being "forced" to chip Gizmo and make him legally ours. Though we have paid his licence for the last 3 yrs. This year the law changed so now all dogs are chipped. We have a big problem with stray and abandoned dogs and dog attacks on kids etc. Now they will be able to "trace" the owners in theory. We will see if they actually bother to check the chips? Of course in theory this would also mean we shouldn;t get any more stray dogs? Right? Because someone somewhere would be "responsible for them". Somehow I am not convinced?
Our Chips were put in free!!!!! You guys seem to have a lot of money to pay but also your microchips contain more info - on the actual chip? Ours have just a number and that number is kept with info by the microchip company. SO we can change info too if we need to. ( But then so can someone in theory who wants to take your dog?) I heard of the ear cutting too. That is nasty poor critters. Definately going to get my next dog tatood on his leg!!!
Oes

 

[dainerra]

The only chip I have seen or even a vet recommended was 60 dollars to implant and a continued 15 dollars a month payment or the chip stops working.

No, the chip never stops working, no matter what. And the $15 a month is for the extra features - like sending out an email to all local vets and petstores if your dog is lost. So, even with only paying the initial amount, your dog is still protected. The sales pitch is hard to hear through sometimes, making it sound like you have no choice but to pay every month.

Also, you can buy a chip with one company and register it with another. I prefer HomeAgain but there was no local vet that sold their chips. So I just registered the chip I bought with the AKC CAR program. I think it was $40 for the chip and $25 to register with AKC. http://www.akccar.org/