Information On Banfield's Microchip Program

1. Q: How many scanners will Crystal donate? The Crystal Import Corporation has committed to donate 30,000 dual read scanners by the July 4, 2006, holiday. Crystal has already donated 2,500 dual read scanners in 2004 and 2005.

2. Q: How can a shelter apply for a grant for free scanners? Requests for a free dual read scanner(s) from Crystal can be emailed to [email protected]. Banfield's New Microchipping Program 3. Q: What is the TruePaws Pet Identification System? The TruePaws Pet Identification System is available at any Banfield hospital, and costs only $29.95. It consists of several important elements, including: � Implantation of two microchips (an unencrypted 125 kHz microchip and a 134.2 kHz ISO microchip). As soon as a Pet is microchipped, each of the chip's unique ID numbers will be entered into Banfield's national medical database, linked to the Pet's medical record.

� Free lifetime registration in Banfield's national database. It's very easy for Pet parents to update their contact information � and it's all free. All Pet parents will need to do is call 1-877-LOST-PET. � Collar tags notifying finder that the Pet has a microchip and providing the Banfield toll free number.

� The TruePaws Promise � When a client accepts the TruePaws Pet Identification system, they agree that if their Pet is lost and brought to Banfield, Banfield doctors are authorized to provide any emergency services necessary in their best medical judgment to treat any injury or to relieve pain. Banfield will discount the first $100 worth of services 100% and the next $500 will be discounted 50%. This way, necessary emergency care is not delayed. This promise is valid for the life of the Pet, as long as the Pet is current on its regular vaccines at Banfield.

� In addition, we recommend that all Pets with a microchip come in annually to have their Pet scanned to ensure the chip can still be found and read.

4. Q: Why implant two chips in the TruePaws Pet Identification System? There are several different kinds of Pet microchips available in the U.S., but there is no official national standard on what type should be used. As a result, many microchip scanners are incompatible with some microchips. This has created confusion and a huge burden for shelters who have to scan for different technologies. Currently, most Pets in the US who have a microchip, have one with a radio-frequency of 125 kHz. However, many other countries have transitioned to a 134.2 kHz ISO microchip, and recent Congressional action suggests that our country may do the same in the near future. Until an official national standard is in place, we recommend to our clients that their Pets get two microchips, both an unencrypted 125 kHz and a 134.2 kHz ISO chip. With both chips implanted, as long as the shelter is using either scanner to scan for microchips today, tomorrow or in the future, the Pet will be protected.

In preparation for the launch of our new microchipping program, Banfield funded a study to ensure that our plan of implanting both a 125 kHz and a 134.2 kHz chip did not create any interference in the readability of the chips. The study was conducted in cooperation with several shelters in different geographic regions. The results of the study revealed several interesting things: � Currently, Pets chipped with only a 125 kHz microchip may be missed a substantial portion of the time when scanned with only a dual read scanner, so it remains important to also scan with the 125 kHz scanners.

� Pets that are double-chipped with both a 134.2 kHz ISO and a 125 kHz unencrypted chip should be read almost 100% of the time, whether read with a 125 kHz scanner or a dual-read scanner.

5. Q: How is the TruePaws Pet Identification System different than Banfield's previous programs? In early 2004, Banfield began our first national microchip program using the International Standards Organization (ISO) 134.2 kHz microchips. We decided to stop microchipping in early May 2004 until a national standard could be accepted by all. One difference with the TruePaws system is that it includes implantation of 2 microchips (an unencrypted 125 kHz and a 134.2 kHz ISO chip) whereas the previous program only implanted a 134.2 kHz microchip. This way the Pet is protected for today � and tomorrow � no matter where it wanders.

6. Q: Will current scanners read the TruePaws chips? The majority of shelters presently use a 125 kHz scanner. These scanners will read the TruePaws 125 kHz chip. However, they will not detect or read any 134.2 kHz ISO microchip, including the TruePaws 134.2 kHz chip. This is part of the reason we decided to implant two chips. Please be aware that the TruePaws 134.2 kHz microchip cannot currently be read by the vast majority of scanners in U.S. shelters and other animal control facilities. Only certain shelters (identified on our website) are equipped with a 134.2 kHz scanner that can read this microchip. The fact that a shelter has a 134.2 kHz scanner does not guarantee that the shelter will actually use the scanner on lost Pets. (See question #1 to find out how to apply for a free dual-read scanner capable of reading 134.2 kHz microhips.) 7. Q: What phone number is on the TruePaws collar tag? The TruePaws collar tags notify finders that the Pet has a microchip and provides the Banfield toll free hospital locator number, which automatically calls the closest Banfield hospital. This means, if someone calls a Banfield hospital saying they've found a Pet with one of our collar tags, the hospital can direct them to come in to the hospital to have the Pet scanned � and if the Pet is hurt, it can be cared for there.

If the caller is a shelter, and they can read the microchip with their scanner, they should contact the 877-LOST-PET phone number which appears on the scanner display when it reads the chip and connects them with our call center. Then, the shelter can obtain the Pet's microchip identification number and contact the Pet owner. 8. Q: If Banfield implants 2 chips, which one will the iMAX plus reader pick up? The iMAX plus reader is capable of reading the 134.2 kHz microchip, the unencrypted 125 kHz microchip and will detect the presence of an encrypted 125 kHz AVID microchip. So, if a 134.2 kHz ISO chip is present, the iMAX plus will usually read the 134.2 kHz chip first. If a Pet has an unencrypted 125 kHz chip, and no 134.2 kHZ ISO chip, the iMAX plus will read the 125 kHz chip. If the microchip is encrypted, the iMAXplus scanner will detect the presence of the chip and the display will read that an encrypted chip was found. Please note: Pets chipped with only a 125 kHz microchip may be missed a substantial portion of the time when scanned with any dual read scanner, so it remains important to also scan with the 125 kHz scanners.

How the TruePaws System Affects Shelters 9. Q: What steps should shelters take when a Pet is brought in that has a chip implanted at a Banfield hospital? 1. The shelter should scan the Pet.

2. If a microchip is detected, and it is was implanted at a Banfield hospital, the display on the scanner will display the following: 134.2 kHz ISO chip (Sample): Banfield 981 010000028395 1-8775678738 Unencrypted 125 kHz chip (Sample): FDX-A 0D0D54678 1-877PetLink 3. When a chip is detected, the Pet's unique ID number will appear along with a toll free number that will connect you with Banfield's Lost Pet Call Center. 4. The shelter simply calls the Lost Pet Call Center and the Call Center will look up the Pet's contact information in the database. This information is attached to a Pet's medical record at Banfield, so we can notify the shelter of any lifesaving medical care that the Pet may need immediately. Banfields' Call Center is open 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. � 8:00 p.m. PST.

5. Banfields' Call Center will give the contact information to the shelter.

6. At that point, the shelter can contact the Pet's owner. Banfield may also attempt to contact the owner. 7. If the Pet requires emergency medical treatment, and it has a microchip implanted at Banfield, the shelter can take the Pet to the nearest Banfield hospital for treatment during Banfield's normal business hours. As part of our TruePaws Promise to our clients, if the Pet is current on its regular vaccines at Banfield, we will discount the first $100 worth of these services 100% and the next $500 will be discounted 50%. (Refer to the enclosed client brochure for complete details on the TruePaws Promise.) 10. Q: How will Banfield work with shelters when a lost Pet is brought to Banfield? If a lost Pet is brought in to a Banfield hospital, we will: 1. Scan the Pet for a microchip. 2. If the Pet has a microchip implanted at a Banfield hospital, we will try to contact the owner and provide any emergency medical care that the Pet may need. If we can't reach the owner, we will contact shelters to provide a description of the found Pet. This way, if the owner stops in or contacts the shelter, they will know that we have the Pet.

3. If the Pet has a microchip implanted somewhere other than a Banfield hospital, we will contact the phone number of the appropriate database and get the owner contact information. If owner contact information is available, we will contact the owner and arrange for them to pick up the Pet.

4. If the Pet does not have a microchip, the Banfield hospital will follow local regulations regarding how to handle stray Pets. 5. We will contact local shelters and report that we have the lost Pet in our possession. No matter what, any lost Pet brought to our hospital requiring emergency care will always receive emergency treatment for pain, shock or bleeding. 11. Q: How long does Banfield keep a lost Pet belonging to a Banfield client before surrendering it to a shelter? Banfield hospitals will work within their state regulations on this. Generally, it's a maximum of 3 days, as long as the Pet is healthy. We will notify shelters immediately when we have a lost Pet.

12. Q: Because of the TruePaws Promise, do shelters need to bring all Banfield microchipped patients to a Banfield hospital for care? No. Animal care and control agencies should follow their standard procedures for taking in stray Pets. However, if a lost Pet has a chip that was implanted at a Banfield hospital and the Pet requires emergency care, the shelter has the option of bringing the Pet to a Banfield hospital during normal business hours to receive care. (See TruePaws Promise in brochure for complete details on eligibility and limitations.) Microchipping History 13. Q: How many Pets have microchips as of today (December 2005)? Less than 5% of America's 164 million Pets have a microchip despite the fact microchips have been available for 20 years. 14. Q: Why don't more Pets have microchips? We believe one the biggest reasons microchips aren't more common is because the average cost to implant a microchip by a veterinarian is over $60, sometimes with an additional cost of $10-$20 to register the chip. This is simply too expensive for many families. It is our hope the lower cost of our all-inclusive $29.95 TruePaws Pet Identification System will help remove the barriers to microchipping that have existed in the past.

15. Q: Does the recent Congressional action change America's current microchip system? The recent Congressional action requires an open Pet microchip technology and a scanner that reads all microchips. Find out more about this Congressional action on www.banfield.net.

In the next few months, APHIS will be making recommendations on how to implement an open standard in the U.S. We believe strongly that America's animal health organizations, the Coalition for Reuniting Pets and Families (www.readallchips.com) and the USDA should work together to determine what the national standard should be and how the transition should be completed. Banfield supports a transition to International Standard Organization (ISO) 134.2 kHz microchip as the national standard and we look forward to working with everyone in this important initiative.

16. Q: What does "open technology" mean? When an open technology is in place, any scanner will be able to read any microchip. This is in contrast to the current system in which encrypted chips operate with a proprietary identification code requiring specialized scanners, the computerized version of a decoder ring. Credits cards are an example of open ISO technology in use today. The standards enable credit cards to be read no matter which merchant swipes them, anywhere in the world. ISO technology standards for Pet microchips could have the same result. 17. Q: What are the benefits of an ISO open technology for microchips? In other countries that have established an open ISO technology, the number of Pets with microchips has increased dramatically. In Great Britain, which uses an ISO 134.2 kHz microchip, 25% of Pets are now microchipped. The U.S. already only uses ISO standard microchips for wildlife, fish, zoo animals, and livestock. It makes sense that microchips used for Pets should follow suit.

19. Q: Who can I contact with questions about the TruePaws Pet Identification System? Email questions to [email protected].

Banfield, The Pet Hospital News and Press Releases

This article has been read 23693 times.

Would you like to own a Banfield, The Pet Hospital Franchise?

For more information about becoming a Banfield, The Pet Hospital Franchise owner, including a franchise overview, start-up costs, fees, training and more, please visit our Banfield, The Pet Hospital Franchise Information page.