Microchipped Mason, Michigan Dog Returned Home After 8 Months

The initial shock of a pet being lost is nerve racking. You go to find them and they aren't where they are supposed to be. They dug a hole, the climbed a fence, someone left a gate open, they got out...they're gone.

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You're freaking out, the kids are crying, you're combing the neighborhood. The longer it goes the tighter the knot in your stomach.

I know that feeling. And it happened recently.

This is my brother's dog Jake. One moment he was in the yard. The next, he was gone. We don't know if someone took him, he got away, or what. We took it pretty hard. But my brother and his son took it the hardest.

If you're a pet owner, you'd do anything for your furry family friend. And I would suggest you get them microchipped.

Because this is Lulu. She was microchipped and now she's BACK HOME SAFELY after 8 MONTHS.

That’s exactly what happened to Kasie this month when her small puggle type dog was brought home to her. The biggest part of this story was that Lulu the dog had been missing for 8 months. It was her microchip that identified her as Kasie’s dog, and with the help of some friends and neighbors, Lulu was able to get home to her family without ever having to step foot in the shelter. (ICAS)

So how do they work?

• A microchip is a non-removable form of identification. (It can't be lost like a tag)
• About the size of a grain of rice, a microchip contains a personal identification number that stays with your companion animal forever. (You MUST keep this info updated - it's definitely not set it and forget it)
• The microchip is inserted under the skin of your companion with an injection and it is a safe and easy procedure.
• A microchip is not a GPS tracking device. The location of a lost animal cannot be tracked or determined from the microchip. (Paws.org)

Lulu the puggle is now back home with her family and Ingham County Animal Control & Shelter wants the same outcome for all the lost dogs and cats out there. If you are interested in getting your pet microchipped, check with your veterinarian, or Ingham County Animal Control will provide microchipping services to the public for a $20 fee. (ICAS)

This simple, easy, relatively painless, and inexpensive process could make the difference when it come to getting your lost pet back home safely.

BUT YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR PART and keep your information up to date in the registry and national database.

Find out more about microchipping your pet and click on one of these links:

• PAWS
• PET FINDER
• AKC

Watch this video to see how the procedure is done.