Microchips

I recieved a call from my mother at about 7 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. My mother had gotten a call from an Animal Shelter in Baldwin Park, CA regarding a pup that they had in their custody. I called the shelter repeatedly until somebody finally answered at 8 a.m. The information I was given was that the puppy had been picked up by animal control as a stray with a severe paw injury. The shelter was ultimately able to track me down after several days of research as the purchaser of the microchip that the pup had been implanted with, since no information was ever registered with the microchip company by the new owner. We are still not sure why the shelter contacted my mother instead of me, but we are extremely thankful that we were contacted at all. I was told that the puppy was due to go up for adoption to the general public that day at noon. I immediately left for Baldwin Park, a three hour drive, and arrived at 11:50 a.m., and picked up the pup.

To make a long story very short, and to keep myself from a libel suit, I will not say much for the individual that I had sold Carter to, other than he decided that he did not want the pup, probably due to the injury. He was not truthful with me, so I do not really know how or why the pup came to be in the animal shelter. All I know is that I blame myself for a grave error in judgement in placing a pup with him at all, and I am shocked and saddened at the ordeal that the pup had to go through.

The pup's paw did indeed have extensive damage which required medications and several weeks of weekly xrays and cast changes, however no permanent damage was done.

I am extremely grateful to both the animal shelter and the microchip company, Home Again, for their diligent efforts on Carter's behalf. The microchip company had not even been paid to register the microchip, and yet thoroughly seached their records to track me down, and of course we all know what a service animal shelters do.

Carter is now a healthy and happy pup, but his story could have been much worse. We microchip all pups prior to placement in a home, and I am an even firmer believer in microchips after this experience. Please remember to register your puppy's microchip as soon as you get him or her home. Their life could depend on it!