UNION COUNTY, N.C. — Union County Animal Services said in recent weeks it has taken in several stray pets and are unable to find their owners thanks to unregistered microchips.
In social media posts, animal services and the Union County Sheriff’s Office said the pets are often chipped, but the chips are not registered to owners.
In an update near the end of 2021, the office said 841 stray animals had been impounded at the shelter, only 64 were microchipped. A third of those chipped pets, did not have up-to-date information, or any information registered.
“When a microchip is unregistered or not updated it is basically useless. Imagine having a cell phone without service connected,” Lt. James Maye said in a statement to Spectrum News 1.
Besides being unfortunate for lost pets, and their owners, Maye said unregistered pets can also cause other problems.
“Kennel space is not unlimited and our goal is to get every stray animal back to its owner. Microchips are so very useful, they make all the difference in getting your lost pet back home,” he added.
To help fight the issue, Maye said animal services was now implementing a new policy.
“When dogs are adopted from the shelter, they are immediately registered in the new owner’s name. In the past, adopters were not always following through with the registration process on their new adopted furry friends. This process ensures at least the dogs being adopted from the shelter will have a calling card home if they get lost,” Maye explained.
The Union County Humane Society said it is seeing some of the same issues. This past year, the Humane Society said microchipping appointments were up, having completed more than 1,200.
Lead veterinarian Jewel Abee said a registered microchip is the best treat for a lost pet.
“'Cause it not only identifies who they are, but it could trace back to the owner. And that’s the ultimate goal with a stray animal, is to find the chip. We always pray when we have a stray come in that they have a chip,” she said.
But, the microchip has to be registered, otherwise it does little to help.
“Hopefully, if the owner registered that chip appropriately, we can trace it right back to the owner and get them home,” Abee said.
The Humane Society said it is usually a small fee, or free, to register your pet’s microchip.
If you are not sure if your dog or cat is microchipped, your vet or the Humane Society can scan it quickly and check for you. Most microchips use an online registry system, which you can use to change addresses and phone numbers when moving, according to the Humane Society.
Ashton Vanderburg is one pet owner who did decide to microchip all her pets. Vanderburg has four cats in her Union County home, all adopted in the last few years, including, her newest cat Nova.
“I kept putting it off, but once we got Nova and seeing how easy the process was, truly. I mean, she was already microchipped, but just to be able to go in and basically type in that number and it’s registered to us, it’s just so easy!” Vanderburg said.
Vanderburg was fostering Nova for the Humane Society, meaning she was already microchipped. Once she adopted her, she realized it was time to get the other cats microchipped too. The quick and inexpensive process is something Vanderburg said can be the difference between heartbreak and closure.
“We had him on a leash, but he unfortunately saw a possum, and somehow — my husband was walking him, and he got out,” Vanderburg said about her family’s dog.
Their dog escaped on a walk and was hit by a car. Vanderburg said if her dog had run further, they might have never known what happened to him.
“Again, if one of them were to get out, we’ll know either what happened or we’ll get them back. So, it gives us that peace of mind,” she said about microchipping her cats.