Selling False Hope?

About 63 percent of all households in the United States have a pet. Of the 5 million to 7 million companion animals entering animal shelters nationwide every year, almost 6 million dogs and cats in shelters each year are not returned to their owners with approximately 3 million to 4 million are euthanized (60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats). It is obvious that we have to change how we motivate owners to identify and care for their pets.

	By George F. Denehy Jr. Sales and Marketing - MobiPetTag Systems Posted: October 22, 2011

Are Pet Microchip Makers Selling False Hope?

According to an annual survey of pet owners by American Pet Products Association, 26 percent of dogs were implanted with microchips in 2010 across the United States, then why are less than 15% of the 5 to 7 million animals that are turned into shelters each year returned to their owners?

Since 1990 Microchip manufacturers have been touting the magical aspects of pets recovered due to their microchips. The sensational emotions involved with finding a beloved companion has been used to convince all of us that the best way to protect and ultimately return our lost companions was to implant them with a Microchip. When in fact according to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), the 15% of dogs returned to their owners had been identified with tags and tattoos not just microchips.

Given the other known problems with the microchip technology, namely the lack of a truly universal scanner system and the availability of scanners in rural America combined with the fact that the implanted chip has a propensity to move after it has been implanted, putting all your faith in the microchip can be disastrous. According to Aimee Gilbreath (from an Oct 28, 2011 article in Reuters – Tales of happy reunions boost interest in pet microchiping), executive director of Found Animals Foundation, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization, "Microchips should be your last line of defense, not your first," said Gilbreath. "You need to get your pet a primitive metal collar tag. That's a much faster way to get Fido or Fluffy home."

Today the challenge is to improve the “primitive dog tag, since we know it works best. Combining the “Database” concept of the microchip with the primitive collar dog tag is the model that MobiPetTag Systems followed in their development of the ’Pet Link” system.

Pet Links uses wireless technology and turns every Smart Phone and iPad like tablet into a tag scanner. The Pet Link is a simple dog tag that provides 167 million Americans with the ability to instantly access your companion’s critical information if they ever get lost or injured. So if your companion ever does get lost, 167 million good Samaritans can save the day by scanning your companion’s Pet Link with their Smart Phone or Tablet.

Some of the other advantages with the Pet Link System are:

• Instant access to Pet Information - Faster than the microchip –> quicker reunion

• No searching for a scanner

• 167 million scanners (Smart Phones & Tablets) in the U.S. and increasing

• Shot history & medical records can be emailed or faxed quickly from cell or tablet

• Special dietary, medical, handling and special training are included on Pet Links

• Your Companion always has their critical information with them

• The Pet Link can be used as a Traveling Passport for pets (records always available)

• Microchip ID number can be included on Pet’s information page

• Pet Links are provided to the owner for their keychain

Whereas the microchip is only good for lost pets, the Pet Link is also good for:

o   Injured Pets

o   Traveling

§  Hotels

§  Kennels

§  Across State Lines

§  Across Country Boarders (Canada)

§  Internationally (Europe, Asia, Africa, etc.)

§  Airlines

o   Groomers

o   Dog Parks

o   Competitive Pet Shows

o   Coupon Savings 

o   Care Tips

o   and Lost Pets

MobiPetTag Systems has merged your pet's well-being, security and primitive dog tag with wireless technology to create the ultimate, high tech, custom coded information link using all of the capabilities of smart phones, iPads and cyberspace.

However, the microchip is an excellent supplement to the Pet Link. You can add your Pet Link’s "bit.ly address", provided by MobiPetTags, to the information on the microchip database, then, if anyone accesses the microchip they will also have immediate access to the critical information on your Pet Link.

The implanted microchip is still a useful technology and should be utilized if possible, but with all of its inherent problems, should not be your first choice for protecting your best friend.

The updated primitive dog tag – Pet Link – is still your best choice, but you must use them.