Has your dog gone missing? Microchips or trackers might help

There’s not a day when I wouldn’t come across a shared post concerning a missing dog on social networks. Sometimes it’s about neglecting its safety, sometimes bad luck. Therefore, using a microchip should go without saying. However, it’s not enough for finding the lost dog.

Nowadays, a microchip is (or should be) a common thing. I even dare to say a necessary thing for dogs’ owners. It is used for a permanent animal tagging and it is obligatory in Prague since 2015. It is a very handy and practical thing. A chipped dog can be identified very quickly when it’s abandoned or lost using a reader which animal control, police, veterinary clinics and some dog shelters and associations have available. Besides the situation when a dog is lost, this tag will come in handy when travelling in the EU.

It is a radiofrequency device, about a millimetre wide and a centimetre long which is put inside the animal’s body to the subcutaneous tissue on the left side of its neck using an applicator. A chip is programmed with a unique code and the animal and its owners are matched in a database using this code. When a dog is chipped at a vet, the owner should receive two registration cards with the code. The owner keeps one of them and sends the other one to the National Register of Animal Owners.

And the chip will help to find the owner of a lost dog. A tracker works on the opposite principle – it helps owners to find their dogs. Moreover, while a chip is a passive device, a tracker helps to find the dog actively. Or more precisely, it gives you information on where your dog is right now in the real time. It is also useful for cat owners if they are interested in where their little adventurers wonder during the day. For example, my cat spent a lot of time at my neighbours. I thought, she’s out there all day, hunting pigeons and playing with other cats and meanwhile, she has a second home in the next flat :).

A GPS tracker is a small box you can attach to your dog’s collar. You only have to recharge it regularly. And it’s not even that expensive as you might expect. The prices start at one thousand crowns.

If your dog is after any hare or roe deer it smells or no high fence can keep it on your garden, a tracker is the right thing for you and it is necessary for the safety of your dog.

Does your companion have a tracker? And what type have you decided for? I’ll be glad if you’ll share your experience.

 

Related articles

Cat on a leash: How to do it?

Cats love fresh air. At least most of them do. However, not all of them have the opportunity to enjoy freedom in nature. Especially cats living in cities spend a lot of time indoors without the opportunity to run freely. That is why cat owners may...

Interactive toys for dogs

It is a well-known fact that every dog likes to play. However, not all dog owners use the option of interactive toys. These toys, in addition to being fun and an outlet for energy, also offer the possibility of development. They have a positive effect...

Dog hygiene: Proper dog care

Our pets are often members of our families, so it goes without saying that we want to give them the same privileges and comforts as anyone else. Although we couldn’t imagine it in the beginning, our canine companions follow us everywhere. On the...

CBD Products: When can they be beneficial?

We usually want only the best for our pets. That is why we often look for ways to improve their quality of life and make sure to support their health as much as possible. We feed them with the best on the market, include regular walks and activities...

Dogdartbee: When a disc is thrown at a target

In this next part of our series dedicated to dogfrisbee, an activity where the dog is thrown a disc, which he then catches and brings back, we focus on the discipline of Dogdartbee. This discipline comes from the Netherlands and its main essence is...

Felinotherapy – When Cats Heal

Like dogs, even cats may have therapeutic effects on patients. This treatment method is called felinotherapy and is suitable for both chronically ill patients, who may need help with coping, and those who suffer from long-term stress. Cats can bring...

Choosing a puppy: What to consider?

Sharing a home with a puppy is a great joy as well as worry. Especially if you have no previous experience with a dog or other domestic animal. Before getting a puppy, you should take into account a number of things, think about them carefully and...