A microchip implant is an identifying integrated circuit placed under the skin of an animal.<\/p>\n
The chip, about the size of a large grain of rice, uses passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and is also known as a PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) tag.<\/p>
It is important to note that microchips are not tracking devices.<\/p>\n
The NSPCA answered three common questions on microchips:<\/strong><\/p> 1. How is it implanted?<\/strong><\/p>\n Each microchip is individually packaged in a sterile syringe.<\/p>\n This is then a simple injection at the inoculation site (for dogs and cats) between the shoulder blades, by a veterinarian or a trained person.<\/p>\n 2. How does it help you find your lost pet?<\/strong><\/p>\n Most lost animals are taken to a vet or the SPCA.<\/p>\n The animal is scanned for a microchip, and the Identipet Database is contacted.<\/p>\n Information (telephone and cellphone numbers, address and other owner details) are provided, and the owners are informed of their pets\u2019 whereabouts.<\/p>\n \u201cData shows that the average time it takes to re-home a lost pet, that has been microchipped, is two hours, compared to several days for an unidentified animal,\u201d said the NSPCA.<\/p>\n 3. What are the costs?<\/strong><\/p>\n The microchip and its insertion by a vet or SPCA can cost between R350 \u2013 R450 per animal.<\/p>\n For more information or assistance visit www.identipet.com.<\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n