Raleigh, NC — In support of Massachusetts legislation requiring all animal control officers to scan all stray dogs for the presence of a microchip, AKC Reunite, the nation’s largest non-profit pet recovery service, has pledged up to 20 Proscan 700 universal microchip scanners to Massachusetts shelters and animal control officers. In the last four years, AKC Reunite has already donated more than 160 scanners to North Carolina, Georgia and Illinois to help reunite lost dogs with their owners.
“AKC Reunite is pleased to support the state of Massachusetts with the donation of universal microchip scanners as we’ve seen first-hand how scanning a dog for a microchip greatly increases its chances at being reunited with its owner,” said Tom Sharp, CEO of AKC Reunite. “We believe that offering these scanners will go a long way to helping pets and lowering shelter costs across the state.”
The Massachusetts legislation took effect in late 2012, but despite its passage, there are still a number of animal control programs that do not have a scanner or the funds to purchase one. Massachusetts organizations interested in applying for a scanner can download an application here.
Lost pets with microchips are up to 20 times more likely to return home. Microchips about the size of a grain of rice are implanted between the shoulder blades of companion animals as identification. Most shelters scan pets for microchips as part of their intake process and owners are reunited with their pet if the number that appears on the scanner is enrolled in a pet recovery database like AKC Reunite. The “universal” microchip scanners now available allow for a single scanner to recognize nearly all microchips currently on the market in the United States. AKC Reunite has reunited more than 400,000 lost pets since its creation in 1995.
Applications can be sent to:
AKC Reunite – MA ACA Scanner Donation
8051 Arco Corporate Drive, Suite 200
Raleigh, NC 27617
FAX 919-816-3828 EMAIL microchip@akcreunite.org
Photo by Jamie McCaffrey used under the CreativeCommons License.
