Good Bloggie!

Microchipping should be simple. Implant chip, pet gets lost, pet is scanned, owner on file is contacted, happy reunion!

What’s the problem? Often owners don’t send their information into the database so when the vet, shelter, or rescue worker calls for info, there’s nothing to report. Chips are mainly sold in bulk and buyer info collected at the time of sale. If any part of the information chain is missing, this can mean bad things for your pet. Most database organizations will start backtracking through the chain till they find information for the animal, but don’t count on it.

Microchip Information Chain
Step 1: Pet is scanned —> Step 2: Database is contacted for owner info. Missing? Go to next step —> Step 3: Database looks for any info about the vet who implanted chip. Missing? Go to next step. —> Step 4: Search database for info of vet, breeder, or entity who bought the chip. Missing?  —> Step 5: Contact manufacturer of chip for buyer info. Missing? End of the line. Pet is on its own, available for rehoming.

Backtracking takes valuable time away from the recovery process and you see how easily it breaks down if any contact info in the chain is missing or not updated. In the worst case scenario, the chip can’t be tracked back before the animal is euthanized at a shelter.

So if you have a microchipped Frenchie or pet, and you haven’t sent in the paperwork to link him/her to YOUR contact info, or you’ve moved and haven’t updated your information, don’t rely on someone in the chain to be there. Go ahead and send your contact info in now. Make sure to write the microchip number down for your records and share it with your vet as backup. Most vets are willing to be an alternate contact, too.

Maybe you aren’t sure if your contact info is up-to-date? Call or write the database and see what they have on file. (Contact links and phone numbers at the end of this entry.) Some databases will do it for free, some for a small charge.

Now for another complicated part, there are different kinds of microchips. Just like radio signals (which is exactly what they are transmitting when scanned) they have different frequencies or “channels.” The most common frequency used in the US is 125kHz. In Europe 134.2kHz is the standard. (If you plan to travel internationally with your pet, something to consider and research.) Some chips are encrypted, meaning their presence can be confirmed, but you need the right scanner to read the number. Current scanners can read both chips, but shelters and rescues faced with limited funds, might have an old scanner. If you are using a chip bought through your vet, breeder, or shelter, you are probably safe, however, doesn’t hurt to know the type and brand. As a backup plan, a collar with an ID tag is always a good idea.

Last, are the databases. There are six major ones. Which one to sign up with? Always best to sign up with the database used by the manufacturer of the chip, but that doesn’t prevent you from signing up with other databases, as well.

Main databases/information registries
24PetWatch ………..  866-597-2424
AKC CAR ………….  800-252-7894
AVID/PetTrac US … 800-336-2843 x 4
Banfield ……………… 877-LOST-PET (877-567-8738)
HomeAgain ………..  888-HOME-AGAIN (888-466-3242)
ResQ ………………….  877-PET-LINK

Microchip lookup sites
Pet Microchip Lookup (AAHA)
Check the Chip (Chloe Standard)
AVID

Some sellers of microchips and chipping equipment
Microchip ID Systems
Revival Animal Health
Check with your vet or a local shelter

The thing to remember is, just chipping your pet doesn’t protect them. Keeping your contact information updated in the database is the most crucial part of the recovery process.

A Frenchie pup who found her way to a rescue group now found her way to sports fame! Check out the story of Yums and how she will be one of the puppies featured in Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl in February 2010.

Wonder how many fans in the crowd will be holding up “We (heart) You” signs, with the heart upside down?

Local bulldog filming for Puppy Bowl

Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl

Trying to translate just WHAT that bat-eared creature is trying to tell you? Is this your first Frenchie, and you’ve started to notice they REALLY don’t behave like other dogs? Maybe you’ve thought about fostering, but don’t know if you have the skills and knowledge to pull it off? Can you tell where all these questions are leading? They are leading you to a wonderful seminar, which can help you answer all the questions above.


Translating your French Bulldog’s behavior into plain English, a one-day seminar presented by Jennifer Lea Reed CPDT-KA, co-owner of the Big Apple Dog School.

Saturday, November 7, 10am – 6pm
Venue: Happy Paws
316 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10012

Topics to be covered: motivation, care of a French Bulldog, socialization, behavioral issues and behavioral modification, and much more. Many demonstrated with actual, live Frenchies!

The seminar comes with lunch, and the ticket price is a a donation to the French Bulldog Rescue Network.

• General Public/$99
• Club Chien Member/$89
• Club Chien Premium Member/$79
• FBRN Adoptive Home/$59
• FBRN Volunteer/$39
• General Public /Early Bird/ $89

This seminar is sponsored by French Bulldog Rescue Network, the French Bull Dog Club of America Charitable Fund, and Club Chien.

Look at those Frenchie nails! My, my…tsk, tsk…they need some TLC and so do you!

Time for your Frenchie (or nonFrenchie) to head down to Lofty Dog and get your pooch a pampering pet-icure while you kick back and take it easy. There will even be a trunk show of vintage clothing courtesy of Bettie Page Clothing, which is based out of Las Vegas.

Proceeds of this relaxing, gala event will go to the French Bulldog Rescue Network, a rescue group dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and placement of French Bulldogs in need.

Point your car, SUV, or tandem bicycle in the direction of downtown on:

Thursday October 8
6pm – 8pm

Lofty Dog
403 W. 2nd Street
Austin, TX 78701
512-476-5050

Click here for parking directions.

This event is sponsored by Austin Urban Vet Center and Tito’s Vodka.

Okay, okay. I know. Aren’t we done with this topic yet? But our little guy and his owners made Animal Planet!! REALLY! Granted, it’s for a few seconds in the lower right, at the end of the clip, but they are there, alongside a bigger, English Bully pal. Just look for the little, brindle Frenchie.

You get to choose your commercial, then the clip starts. Pretty cute piece. Janet McCulley figured this event out to the T.
Animal Planet: The Daily Treat

About 50 bulldogs participated this year and the event was so popular, DowntownDogLover.com plans to make this an annual event. Better grab more baby pools now.

This event wasn’t just fun, it also helped raise funds for an important San Diego animal charity, the FACE Foundation. FACE is different from other charities because it focuses help on pets already with loving families, but who may be in a crisis position of surrendering or euthanizing their pet because they can’t afford to pay part, or all, of the emergency or critical medical care their pet may need to recover or survive.

Here’s one more clip, he may, or may not be in. We are still stop-framing to see.

From FOX News (After the commercial and the weather. At the very, very end of the clip.)