5 Reasons to Use Implantable RFID on Your Pet

How many times have you seen a "Lost Pet" poster in your neighborhood? Some pets and breeds do not respond when called, or recognize their territory is limited to your house or yard. Losing a pet is can be a tragic and stressful experience.

But, due to advances in radio frequency technology, this risk can be easily prevented. A veterinarian can now implant a completely harmless RFID tracking tag safely beneath the animal's skin. Although the technology is fairly new, many pet owners are already opting to protect their pets with Implantable RFID devices.

In fact, The Iams Co., routinely pledges to donate wireless RFID scanners to animal shelters that pick up unidentified animals. This enables Shelters to identify RFID implanted pets and contact their owners, or begin the often fruitless task of holding the animal until it is claimed. Often less than 15% of lost dogs and cats are ever returned to their home.

Give yourself peace of mind that you'll never lose your beloved pet. Have your animal tagged with an RFID device. Here are 5 reasons to use implantable RFID tagging on your pet.

1. No Adverse Effects

The RFID tag is about the size of a grain of rice. It's inserted quickly and easily underneath your pet's skin with a hypodermic needle, completely without sedation. The tag is encased in a special coating that will not irritate the tissue. In fact the casing is made of a special material that allows the tissue to grow around the tag and bond with it in the same way that an ear piercing heals.

Radio-frequency beams communicate with a scanner through the epidermal layers of the skin. Your pet will experience no more pain or irritation than they would from a standard vaccination.

2. Low Cost

The cost of the RFID chip is around $ 50, with some additional costs for embedding the tag and programming the owner ID database. That $ 50 is a small price to pay for the peace of mind you will have know that if your dog or cat ever turns up missing, it's only a matter of time before he or she is returned.

3. Better than a Collar

Even if your pet wears a collar or harness, an RFID tag is still a far more secure method of identifying your dog. In the wild, collars are easily snagged on things and torn or slipped off. Due to their implantable nature, RFID tags are guaranteed never to come off. As you may have assumed, they're completely weatherproof as well.

4. RFID Tags Transmit Vet Info

Not to scare you, but should your pet get lost and suffer an accident, they may not get medical attention before it's too late. Implantable RFID tags assist with this as well. The tag transmits to a scanner a unique ID code, the pet's name, breed, owner's info, and veterinary info. With the veterinary info, anyone can retrieve the pet's medical records ensuring that they get proper care in time.

5. Managing Livestock

For those of you who keep animals for commercial uses can very benefit from RFID tagging. The tags allow you to quickly identify animals and manage herds. Since the outbreak of mad-cow disease, this has been a critical component of managing and protecting your investment.