Microchip Dog, a Dog-Gone Good Story Worth Telling

A Microchip for a dog helps ensure that your lost pet will find its way home. Once in a while these pet microchips render a tale worth sharing with other concerned parents of pets. This time, a dog microchip gives us a story of sadness and gladness, almost in the same breath. With the hope that this illustrates the importance of getting a microchip for your dog, or any pet that might get lost, I impart this tale.

All eyes were on me. Six of them to be precise.  Two, belonging to Keith Jones, are failing.  His wife, Marjorie’s, eyes were misted with tears as she turned her gaze from the two belonging to the dog they called Foxy, a brown Australian cattle dog mix, who was sitting on my exam table looking up languidly at me. 

Mrs. Smith continued her emotional tale as I gave Foxy a once over, "Keith has wanted a dog and I thought it was a bad idea. He's going blind and I was afraid he'd trip over any dog that followed him around." Foxy wandered into their back yard and their lives one afternoon two weeks earlier.  Wearing a weather-worn collar and a hopeful expression Foxy gained immediate VIP access to the Jones household, as well as carte Blanche at the supper table. She repaid her benefactors with complete devotion to Keith. She was by his side to give and receive affection, raising his spirits in the throes of macular degeneration, an irreversible, progressive blindness. 

My examination confirmed that Foxy was in good health.  The Joneses were elated - their newest family member was fit as a fiddle.  Then my technician came in with the microchip scanner.  Many dogs are impregnated with a tiny microchip placed under the skin between the shoulder blades by a procedure as simple as an injection. Each pet chip is uniquely numbered to identify a specific dog. A national registry maintains the data base to allow any microchipped dog to be swiftly reunited with its rightful owner.  The chip reader was waved over Foxy’s back and the pet microchip immediately registered an audible blip and a number. 

"Uh-oh.  This dog, it seems, already has a home". We telephoned the Microchip Registry and within minutes Foxy’s rightful owner rang us back.  She would be right down to collect her. 

Keith Jones was in tears, his wife distraught. In two weeks they had fallen deeply in love with this dog that seemed to appear like a gift from the universe. It was this scene of remorse that Maria Lamagna walked into to greet her lost pooch, whom she called Susie.  The four of us were congregated in the exam room, all hovering around Foxy/Susie.  Mrs. Lamagna’s elation and relief were quickly tempered by the Jones' grief.  As she knelt next to her Susie she took in the Jones’ sorrow.  There were tears in her eyes as she nuzzled Susie's neck while the dog lovingly accepted her affection.  Mrs. Lamagna, it came out, had adopted Susie from a local shelter just three days prior to when the latter broke away from her to chase after a stray dog, never to return.  She initiated a search, notified authorities but until today she had received no responses. 

Emotion was high as Mrs. Lamagna turned her own teary eyes up to me and stated with obvious ambivalence, "I can't take this dog away from them ... after all, they've had her longer than I did." Foxy/Susie sidled over to Mr. Jones and sat down by his feet.  He petted her head and through his own tears declared to Mrs. Lamagna, "I can't take your dog!” But Maria was adamant.  Putting her own feelings aside and ignoring Mr. Jones’ protestations, she simply asked, "Can I come visit her?"

"Of course!" both Keith and Marjorie shouted simultaneously.  A new friendship was made on the spot.  Mrs. Lamagna looked up again at me, "Will you help me find another dog?"

"We are already on it". I wasn’t exaggerating.  From the time Mrs. Lamagna had telephoned us, my staff had been searching our considerable data base to find a replacement dog for Mr. Jones.  Requests the previous week on behalf of another client had turned up a number of prospects and our close relationship with local shelters and rescues promised several more.  There is no lack of wonderful dogs looking for good homes. 

The experience left me with complicated emotions - elation and sadness mixed into one, but overall a sense of faith in the goodness of people and joy in the magic that pets bring to life

If you have ever worried about your dog getting lost, consider having a Dog Microchip placed in them. At AVH Animal Hospital we always encourage our patient’s parents to do this. Feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions about pet microchips.

Dr. Michael R. Haas is the senior partner at AVH Veterinary Group in Pen Argyl, PA. AVH is a full service animal medical facility that provides a full spectrum of medical care for dogs and cats. His extraordinary care and concern for animals has earned him a sterling reputation with his patient's parents.