Recognizing that incompatible microchip technologies can hinder animal shelters and veterinarians trying to reunite lost pets with their owners, the recently formed Coalition for Reuniting Pets and Families (Washington) is asking suppliers of pet identification microchips and scanners to make universal scanners that can read all microchips 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 (Washington). “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 homes each year in the United States, according to Sue Richey, executive director of the American Kennel Club’s Companion Animal Recovery (Raleigh, N.C.). Only a fraction of them are returned to their owners, despite the best efforts of shelters, animal control officers and veterinarians.

The incompatibility between commonly used microchip scanners and some new microchips came to light after approximately 380 Banfield Pet Hospitals inside PetsMart stores began using ISO microchips by The Crystal Import Corp. (Pelham, Ala.), and facilities in Wisconsin began using ISO microchips by Allflex USA Inc. (Dallas). [For more information, see “News Beat,” July 2004.]

The Crystal and Allflex microchips operate on the 134-kilohertz radio frequency, while Avid microchips made by Avid Identification Systems Inc. (Norco, Calif.) and HomeAgain microchips marketed by Schering-Plough Animal Health Corp. (Union, N.J.) operate on the U.S. standard 125-kilohertz frequency. The 134-kHz chips cannot be read by scanners in place in most shelters, humane societies and veterinary clinics in the United States.

In addition to the HSUS and AKC/CAR, coalition members include the American Animal Hospital Association (Lakewood, Colo.), the American Humane Association (Denver), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (New York), the American Veterinary Medical Association (Schaumburg, Ill.), the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators (Denver) and many major animal shelters and humane societies across the country.

The coalition is calling for U.S. distributors and manufacturers to provide enough universally compatible scanners to equip all animal shelters, animal control officers and veterinarians nationwide.

According to the coalition, The Iams Co. (Dayton, Ohio) has offered to donate 30,000 scanners—worth about $5 million—to shelters, animal control officers and veterinarians throughout the United States if all current companion animal microchip manufacturers and distributors agree to embrace the mass scanner distribution.

The coalition also is asking pet microchip distributors and manufacturers to support a more robust nationwide animal recovery system with an easily updated national database of microchipped pets as well as ongoing pet owner education.

“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.”

For more information, visit www.readallchips.com. [October 2004 PET AGE]