Murphy, yellow lab

Murphy the dog is OK but his case showcases debate over microchips in canines
By John Foren | Flint Journal
December 19, 2007, 7:00PM

Dennis Perkins of Grand Blanc Township and his dog, Murphy, have been reunited.

GRAND BLANC TWP. -- Murphy's story had a happy ending.

The big yellow lab that escaped the electronic fence around his home in Grand Blanc Township was found by his owner at the Genesee County Animal Control shelter last week.

But that owner is still unhappy with the Pasadena Avenue shelter, which never scanned for the microchip that had been injected under Murphy's skin -- an electronic identifier designed as a fail-safe for finding the owners of lost animals.

"It makes me wonder how many dogs (with identification chips have) ended up in the incinerator," said Dennis Perkins.
Perkins lost his dog Dec. 8 and recovered him four days later after a woman recognized him after seeing a lost-dog posting on the Internet.

"From what I understood, that (scanning for chips) is standard protocol," Perkins said. "If they don't check for them, what's the point?"

The county's policy on scanning stray dogs and cats for microchips isn't exactly written in stone.

On Monday, Chief Officer Lloyd Gerhardt said the shelter did not routinely scan for microchips, but in a second interview with The Flint Journal today, he said it actually is regularly done -- about 90 percent of the time.

Gerhardt said his initial remarks were misunderstood but agreed Murphy was never checked for a microchip because he acted aggressively.

Gerhardt initially said "we don't scan" regularly for microchips, citing problems with some scanners, which don't always correctly read all chips.

"Nothing says you have to scan," he said Monday, noting the state law only requires the shelter attempt to identify animals through by license tags.

Today, Gerhardt said the shelter actually scans most every incoming animal -- an estimated 90 percent -- for microchips unless animals are especially difficult or aggressive.

Microchips are an increasingly popular way for pet owners to keep track of their animals but they only work if animals are scanned once they are found.

All animals taken into the Genesee County Humane Society are scanned for microchips and it's recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association and the state Department of Agriculture.

Michele Finateri, veterinary program manager for licensing and rabies at the Agriculture Department, said all shelters should scan stray animals for chips to avoid allowing someone's pet from being adopted or allowing an animal to be euthanized.

Michigan's law covering requirements for licensed shelters was written before the technology was used, she said.

"It just makes sense," Finateri said. "It's our opinion an animal shelter should (scan). I believe most shelters are doing that."

Genesee County Human Society Executive Director David Tucker said his shelter looks for microchips on all incoming animals. The shelter uses a scanner that reads the most widely used microchips.

Most veterinary clinics keep microchips on hand and the injection can cost as little as $20, according to the AVMA. The injection is no more painful than a typical injection.
Veterinarian Simon Fick of Grand Blanc Veterinary Hospital said he recommends the microchip for all pets.

Perkins, who lives in Oak Hills subdivision, said his dog escaped his yard after the battery on his collar died, leaving an electronic fence ineffective.

He said he discovered Murphy was at the shelter after a woman believed she recognized the animal based on an Internet posting and told Perkins she had seen the dog.

Perkins and Gerhardt both said Animal Control also contacted the Perkins' today to tell them they believed they had located his dog after a family member called the shelter, asking that staff keep an eye out for Murphy.

Perkins said he wants to see the Flint Township shelter start scanning all animals.

"I don't want to see this happen to somebody else," he said.

The county animal shelter is one of the busiest in Michigan. The Flint Journal reported earlier this year that it had one of the highest rates of euthanasia for cats and dogs in the state in 2006.

Source: http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/newsnow/2007/12/murphy_the_dog_is_ok_but_his_c.html
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