24hr PetWatch Mircochips?

[rothenb1]

My cats were adopted from the SPCA, so they've got microchips. I realized yesterday that my old address is still on their microchips, so I called 24hr PetWatch to ask if I could change their information to my new address.

Guess what. It costs FIFTEEN DOLLARS PER CAT to change information in their computer system. To change 10 words and a handful numbers, I would have to pay THIRTY DOLLARS.

After the man told me this, I paused for a minute, and asked him "So you're telling me, if I NEVER move, then I don't have to give you money." He responded, "Yes." So I said "You're charging me because I moved. All you need to do is change a little bit of information in your computer. And I seriously need to give you money?" "Yes."

Does anyone else find this completely absurd?? I mean, I can afford it, but it's the principle of the matter. I shouldn't have to give them money so they can change 2 addresses, which will probably take 2 minutes to do.

Does anyone know if I can change microchip providers? I'm so angry at these people.

[Sarkazmo]

Yeah, it's absurd. What's more absurd is that there's a couple different "chips" and the readers are NOT compatible with each other so if you have one and the place that scans your pet has the other, they'll get nothing from the chip.

Sark

[rothenb1]

Yeah, it's absurd. What's more absurd is that there's a couple different "chips" and the readers are NOT compatible with each other so if you have one and the place that scans your pet has the other, they'll get nothing from the chip.

Sark

That's nice to hear. At least they're indoor cats, and I live in an apartment complex so it'd be pretty hard for them to get outside. But I'd really like to have my new address on there JIC.

[Northernguy]

Because they had the chips when you got them they should offer at least one free change of address but that won't happen.Nothing is free anymore.
Tell the people where you used to live where you moved to so you can get your cats back when they take off or don't let your cats out!
Not much you can do about it.I have to buy licenses for my dogs every year and they never get loose.Why should I if I don't move!?Its called a cash grab! Be thankful you are not charged yearly!

[Rue]

I agree...they should have a better system.

My 'rescues' came with with the microchip...and my vet strongly recommended we microchip the others...but I don't want to (and we've never moved since we got the critters!) - so I never paid the fees. You needed to pay for something for the chips to actually be traceable - I can't remember what exactly it was.

Instead I just replaced all the dog's name tags (they lost the other set)...has our phone number on it...this time the tags were $8 each.

[Northernguy]

Instead I just replaced all the dogs name tags though...has our phone number on it...this time the tags were $8 each.
Thats cheap!:18:
:spam:
I pay 50 for an unspeyed or unnuttered dog.25 if they are fixed.The fine for not getting a tag is ridiculous!

[Wild Turkey]

They need to make money from the responsible pet owners to keep their companies afloat while it catches on with the masses. When it becomes more popular look out for newer companies that charge less and will use microchips from other companies etc. Its not very fair but not much we can do except express its importance to the average dog/cat owner.

I pay a similar setup fee, and then its $6 if they ever have to retrieve the information. Very steep, but not something im unwilling to pay for should the need ever arise. They will probably charge me when I move as well. :(


Its just my opinion but I think that there should be a law that any dog or cat should have to be microchipped. It would probably fall under county laws though.

[Rue]

...
Its just my opinion but I think that there should be a law that any dog or cat should have to be microchipped. ...

Why? I don't think it's worthwhile at all.

[rothenb1]

Why? I don't think it's worthwhile at all.


I'm beginning to think it's not worthwhile either, if what Sark said is true, that there are a few kinds out there and they aren't universal. How ridiculous is that!! At least the kitties don't go outside. Sometimes I take Socks for a walk on a harness (you should see the looks I get!!). She loves it.

[Wild Turkey]

Why? I don't think it's worthwhile at all.

I feel that it has the potential to:

- Make animal cruelty cases easier to prosecute, and make it less likely for someone to "drop off" a pet to the life of a stray.

- Make it easier to find and return lost pets, clearing room at shelters for dogs that really need it, and giving them a larger window for adoption before their time comes.

- Make it easier to create and enforce other pet related regulation, such as backyard dog breeding.

But the biggest advantage for you personally as a pet owner is of course that if your dog is found without a collar and no microchip, if its not claimed it could be just weeks away from a needle, however if it is microchipped they (should) immediately know what dog it is, can look up what vaccinations its received and when, and most importantly the dog lives to run away another day. If for some reason the chip reader couldnt read the numbers, the shelter is likely still made aware of the fact that the dog is chipped and that in itself should vastly decrease the chances of them destroying it but I am speculating there.

Remember the story about the lady's dog that ran away and was returned to her 7 years later? I thought it was a sad story because most cases like that end up with the dog being put down when no one claims it, and an investment of 60$ or so would have almost guaranteed the dogs safe return shortly after it was lost, since the dog was found, went unclaimed and readopted.(Lucky)

Its just my opinion but I do feel strongly about it, and I havent met a vet yet that thought mandatory microchipping was a bad idea, or was willing to say so.

[Rue]

You're right of course...but it would have to be regulated properly...and it isn't. Right now it's merely an attempt to make a business out of a new technology.

If you keep a tag on your pet...I think you're just as well off. A few animals will, sadly, still be lost or stolen...but they are anyways, as it stands.

I think the answer lies in pet owner licensing.

I know no one wants to hear about more government intervention...and I'm not talking about a dog tag...I'm talking about a mandatory course for pet owners (like the rifle course I had to take) and another for pet breeders. No breeding permitted without a current licence. That will take care of most of those back-yard breeders.

[Wild Turkey]

..I'm talking about a mandatory course for pet owners (like the rifle course I had to take) and another for pet breeders. No breeding permitted without a current licence. That will take care of most of those back-yard breeders.

I wholeheartedly agree, making it mandatory to have a license to own, and another to breed certain pets is a great step in the right direction and comes up a lot with this topic. Its the first step down the road to regulating anything, microchipping included.

[rothenb1]

Most places don't require a license for your pet. The town I live in (suburb of Buffalo) requires anyone who owns 3+ dogs to have a breeder license, even if they're not breeding.
When I adopted my cats they did a background check and that was it. Of course most people who adopt from a shelter will take good care of their companion animals, but I think that shelters should do a little more, like a home inspection.
Anyway. Backyard breeding is absolutely horrible and when I see posters for "pit bull puppies for sale" I want to scream. How about going to the shelter and adopting one??? 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized every year around the US simply because there is not enough room for them, and a vast majority of the dogs euthanized are pit bulls, simply because of backyard breeding. If only people knew this. But puppies are just too cute to resist, so people pay hundreds of dollars for one.
I know someone who paid 2,500 for their puggle. Why??? How does a dog seriously cost that much money? That person essentially paid as much as an older used car, for a mutt (not that mutts are bad!).
Shelter dogs have a fee of less than 200 dollars, give or take, depending where you go.

*end rant*

[Rue]

I can understand paying money for a well-bred purebred dogs. Those breeders put in a huge time/love investment in an attempt to produce ideal dogs of their breed.

But the cross-breeders take any two purebreds...breed them and charge MORE for a mutt than the purebred breeders do!

Boggles my mind...

Not to mention (although I am) that the cross-breeders often diss the purebreds, yet they NEED them to produce their own puppies...:sconfused:

[Sarkazmo]

Purebreds are generally weaker than mutts. When developing a 'line' of animals you breed into it's own bloodline to emphasize the traits that you're seeking but you are also end up magnifying problems with the blood line as well. Purebreds are essentially long line inbreeds. Mutts have a more diverse genetic pool and are typically much more resilient to disease and have fewer birth defects due to that genetic diversity. That's not to say that you can't have exceptional purebred dogs or weak mutts.

Sark

[Lady Hobbs]

It cost money in FL to change your address on your drivers license so changing the address on micro chips doesn't surprise me. With what it cost for vets, $30 doesn't sound to expensive to keep track of your pets.

"24PetWatch is part of Pethealth Inc, an international group that specializes in microchipping and lost pet recovery as well as other pet care services to shelters, rescue groups, animal welfare organizations, humane societies, and pet owners."

[Rue]

...been thinking about this issue...

This GPS collar isn't the answer either...but I like the fact that at least you can locate your pet if it runs off...

Microchipping doesn't help with that at all...

Even so, you need to find your pet quickly...it only has a small tracking range...1-3 miles...

However, I imagine the technology will improve with time as well...

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

This is only one company...there are others...

[wolf_eyes]

Hey guys. I work at a vet's office and we use a couple of different chips. If it makes you feel better, we do own all the types of chip checkers so we will try all of them to make sure an animal has one. I know we have serveral other clinics in the vegas area and they have all types as well. Now I say "all types" but really we only have 2 different chip checkers. Avid, if I remember correctly is not universal, but the other brands can be read by a bigger chip checker we have.

To be honest, yes it does stink that you have to pay, but it's not surprising to me either. Not a lot of people chip, we get maybe 2-3 a week. For those companies to keep the company going they probably do have to charge. Like WT said, when it goes more mainstream I bet they will stop that charge.