Shelters not routinely scanning cats for microchips?

crazy4strays · Sep 1, 2015

I just signed a petition on change.org that a cat guardian started, to prompt the state of Massachussetts to routinely scan cats for microchips. Apparently, this cat mom lost her fur baby and while searching for him, was informed by her local animal control that they don't bother scanning cats for microchips--only dogs.

Is that really common?

Before chipping my cats, I called my Humane Society and they said that all animals who come in are routinely scanned, whether they are cats or dogs. It makes me sick to think that in some area, animal control could just euthanize cats without bothering to check for a chip.

https://www.change.org/p/the-state-...e_location=petition_footer&algorithm=promoted

Margret · Sep 1, 2015

Crazy4Strays said:
I just signed a petition on change.org that a cat guardian started, to prompt the state of Massachussetts to routinely scan cats for microchips. Apparently, this cat mom lost her fur baby and while searching for him, was informed by her local animal control that they don't bother scanning cats for microchips--only dogs. :doh3:

Is that really common?

Before chipping my cats, I called my Humane Society and they said that all animals who come in are routinely scanned, whether they are cats or dogs. It makes me sick to think that in some area, animal control could just euthanize cats without bothering to check for a chip.

https://www.change.org/p/the-state-...e_location=petition_footer&algorithm=promoted

Thank you for alerting us to this one. I just signed the petition, and I'll be calling my local shelter to make sure they routinely check tomorrow.

Margret

jcat · Sep 1, 2015

That's insane. The shelter I work at scans every mammal that comes in and checks birds and reptiles for rings. Even the police around here scan strays and have a shelter double check.

crazy4strays · Sep 2, 2015

One thing that I'm not sure on, was this petition asking AC to make sure to scan live animals or strictly deceased animals?

The petition maker created it when her cat got lost and AC said that they didn't bother scanning deceased cats. People had told her that a cat matching her kitty's description was found hit by a car and she really had to push hard for AC to scan it.

The deceased cat turned out not to be hers though and she later located and recovered her cat alive, with the help of a pet detective.

jcat · Sep 2, 2015

It seems her issue is with the Department of Public Works not having feline remains scanned after they're picked up from roads, so that the owners can be notified of the cat's demise by animal control/the local shelter.

crazy4strays · Sep 2, 2015

Okay, so her issue wasn't actually with Animal Control and didn't involve live animals?

jcat · Sep 2, 2015

That's how I understand it. The Public Works employees probably don't have a scanner and just don't bother to take all the companion animal remains they pick up to a shelter/AC to be checked for a microchip or tattoo.

The municipal workers around here are required to, and it's an unpleasant task for everybody concerned, but necessary to give the owners of missing pets some closure. If there are no means of identifying the pet, a description and often a photo go up on the shelter's website, and reports of missing pets are checked out.

crazy4strays · Sep 2, 2015

Okay, thanks for the clarification and correction! That's a relief that it wasn't a case of animal control being lazy.

I've heard of shelters euthanizing chipped pets, that's why the idea didn't sound that unlikely!

Shelters not routinely scanning cats for microchips?

crazy4strays

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