Microchipping?

[diam124]

I am taking our cat in later today to get a microchip, but it just occurred to me that I don't really know too much actually getting one implanted. I assumed it's just like a shot - is that correct? I'm hoping it's not too painful or uncomfortable for her.

[Peppy]

They just insert it with a big needle under the skin. My cat literally did not even flinch. I don't think she felt it at all. It was over in seconds.

[diam124]

Hmm, well this trip to the vet was somewhat of a disaster (LOTS of hissing, trying to bite, etc.) and she definitely felt the injection - she actually yelped. But, she is always overly dramatic, so I'm not sure that it really hurt. I'm just glad it's over!

[megc1]

Can I ask how much it cost? One of my dogs has it already but the other one doesn't and she is more likely to run if given the chance.

[diam124]

The vet charged $45 and then it's an additional $18 to register with Home Again.

[Katy]

My PSA here...please make sure that you 1 ) keep your contact info up to date and 2) make sure your primary contact person is your BEST contact person. I've told this story before, but I think it bears repeating and explains why the above points are SO important (and none of the paperwork mentions it).

While we were in Canada on our honeymoon, our little guy was staying with my FIL. Only a couple days into our trip, he got out. He was in the pound for 3 days before my FIL found him in the right pound after calling and visiting every local pound. Our Home Away file was complete with contact numbers, cell & work numbers, email addresses and home addresses -- FOUR contacts deep!

Sadly, they're policy was to only use the very first contact (which no one and no paperwork tells you!) Since we were out of the country, we didn't have cell service. We didn't find out he was missing until we were in Seattle on a super brief layover, heading back home. Basically, they called the home number twice and mailed a letter letting us know that we had 10 days from impound or he would either be put to sleep or adopted out!!!. They never called my cell, never called any additional numbers and never sent an email.

The really sad thing in all of this...the third contact was my FIL (second being Richard) and Griffin was found ACROSS THE STREET from his house!! :mad: The fourth contact was my best friend that would have also known how to get in touch with us, come hell or high water (our FIL thought he was doing us a favor by not bothering us on our honeymoon - he meant well, scary as it was). They explained that this is there policy, to only contact the primary contact. They said if they don't hear back from the primary in a XX days, they move on to the next contact (which of course, would have gone against the 10 days that the letter stated).

I won't even get me started on the fact that he was found with his collar on - which had both his rabies tags and his city license (speaks of the incompetence of the pound if you ask me). So please, make sure you keep ALL your contact information updated. I can only imagine what could have happened had we gone on a two week honeymoon instead of a one week.

[Foley42]

Holy crap, Katy. Was it was the pound's policy to only call the primary number listed?

[Katy]

Yep, and Home Again if I recall (this was 3 years ago now) You better believe that I spent a TON of time on the phone after all this with the pound and with the folks at Home Again. I remember asking HA why they even ask for additional contacts if they're not used. Apparently, the pound (or I'd guess the vet) could request additional contacts, but the first is all that goes out that first time around. Hopefully that process has changed by now (as it certainly seems to be a ridiculous process.

[Foley42]

Katy: I just registered my pup with Home Again (like 15 min ago). I went to the Vet to get her chipped and she ended up already having one (we adopted her). After hearing your story I am going to call back and inquire about the additional contact numbers and if they're being used.

[Katy]

great!! Let us know. I sure hope things have changed in these past 3 years. With everything being computer/internet-based, I can't imagine why it wouldn't have changed.

[diam124]

Foley, how much did you pay to register online? I was going to do the online thing, but the price was a one-time registration fee ($8 I think) and then $15 per year for the service. On the form given to me by the vet it said there was just a one-time fee of $17.99

[eli1126]

We did with Beau and Belle when they got spayed and neutered so I'm not quite sure how much it was, but I do remember DH thinking it wasn't all that much and that we should go ahead and have it done.

[Foley42]

Foley, how much did you pay to register online? I was going to do the online thing, but the price was a one-time registration fee ($8 I think) and then $15 per year for the service. On the form given to me by the vet it said there was just a one-time fee of $17.99
Abby already had a chip when we adopted her. I got the vet's office to scan her to get the chip number. I then called Home Again and 24 Pet Watch. Home again was going to charge me a $10 activation fee plus $15/year. 24 Pet Watch was free for life. The microchip was a 24 Pet Watch chip so that's why it was free. Since Abby's chip was a 24 Pet Watch chip then if I had signed up with a competitor then there would have been a fee.

I hope that makes sense. Let me know if it doesn't. 24 Pet Watch also offers pet insurance whereas Home Again does not.

Avid microchips will have the chip number plus AVID at the end (so you know it's a Avid chip) Example: XYZ123AVID

[nml12903]

We just recently got our dog microchipped. Our vet uses AVID, but her chip number does not end in AVID. It just ends in A. We paid $15 to have it done. $10 was for the chip and registration, and $5 was for inserting it.

[Peppy]

I am so annoyed with HomeAgain!!!! Katy's post prompted me to check my HomeAgain online information so that the default was the best number to reach me at. First, they have changed their website, so "for [my] security" it no longer recognized my username and password. I had to set everything up all over again. Once I set it up it asked me for a new password, which I entered. I then tried to log in again, and it wouldn't recognize the password! So I clicked "forgot my password" so I could get a new one (even though I had just entered the new password) and it didn't recognize my username.

I searched for a customer service number, but they don't publish one. So I was stuck submitting a question via their website. But the comment box cuts you off after a few characters so I couldn't appropriately describe my question.

And of course, because this chip is implanted in my cat, it isn't like I can just go with another company. I hate HomeAgain!!

Oh, and nml, you got an amazing deal. My vet charged $60 to implant the chip, and then I had to pay for HomeAgain's registration. Sometimes the Humane Society does a microchipping event and they charge about $40-45 at those. I have never heard of a $5 charge!

[Foley42]

And of course, because this chip is implanted in my cat, it isn't like I can just go with another company. I hate HomeAgain!!
Yes you can go with a different company. Even though my dog's chip is 24 Pet Watch brand I could have signed up with Home Again. Check into it if you despise their company so much.

[Peppy]

Well, I did find a phone number on their site and talked to them. Just so those who use HomeAlone know, the situation hasn't changed since Katy's experience. They will call the primary phone number and if they get a voicemail that says something that shows it's you (like "Hi, you have reached [name]") they will leave a message and not try any of your other contact numbers. If they can't confirm they have the right number, she said they will go to the next number on the list, but that is the only instance in which they do so.

Also, they are now providing "upgraded" service, for a $14.95 per year fee. If you sign up for that they will call local shelters if your pet is missing, you can upload a photo onto their website, you can print out "lost" posters and they have an on-call vet if you have an emergency (I'm not sure how the vet thing works). But the enhanced service doesn't change how many numbers they will call to tell you your pet has been found. Just that one number with a voicemail.

[diam124]

Hmm, HomeAgain sounds a little sketchy. I looked everywhere on their website to sign up and I didn't see any options other than the "upgraded" service. I'll have to contact them once my check clears to make sure everything is registered ok.

I put our home number as the primary number. We can check our messages remotely, so I thought that was the best option.

[Peppy]

Diam, the customer service rep I spoke with referred to the service I have (which I purchased about six months ago--a one-time fee) as their "old" service. So it might be that they aren't offering it anymore and have instead decided to go with this upgraded service with a yearly charge.

I'm usually all for paying tons of money for my cat, but since she is indoor only, I figured the upgraded service really wasn't worth it. If she were ever lost I would put together my own posters, and I have a comprehensive list of the shelters and rescue groups in the area, and would want to call and visit them myself anyway. So the upgraded service didn't make sense for me. But I could understand someone who has a dog or an outdoor cat, which would be more likely to get lost, would find the service helpful.

[Katy]

Wow, it hasn't changed, huh? That's really sad considering they have to input the ID# into a computer to get the contact info - what harm would it be to show all contact info?

When I think about how close we came to losing our dog and how simple it would have been to scroll down the list and find the address and contact info ACROSS THE STREET from where he was found, it just makes me mad. I'd pay the upgrade if it meant that they'd release all contact info when the account is accessed. But not for the stuff they are offering.

I still have the Lost Dog poster my BIL created when Griff was gone. Luckily, my BIL had a picture from one of the family gatherings.