My dog was surrendered by his previous (and only other) owners to a shelter in another state because they didn’t feel like paying for his dental work and a cyst removal.
During a recent X-ray, it was discovered that the shelter, instead of getting the information from old chip and transferring it to me, just put a new chip in. both chips will show up on a reader, though the old one more intermittently.
wwyd? Have the old chip removed, as to not cause any confusion if the dog were to be recovered if lost? Or just leave it alone?
TIA.
Just update both chips to your information. Lots of dogs have two chips, my personal rescue dog does because I really dislike the company that provided his first chip, they make the whole reporting him found and getting him back to me difficult for the finders. So I put in a second one with a company I like
Yes, I would contact the company who supports the old chip and update the information to be yours. That way if he is ever lost all his chips lead to the same home.
It might depend on the company, but for some only the person whose information is on the chip is able to change that information. The previous owner might have to change that information, or give you information on how to change it. But many people that dump their dog in a shelter aren’t that helpful. If that is the case, I think I would opt to have the surgery. It can get very tricky if the old microchip is scanned, the old owner is contacted, and they decide “You know, I kinda want my old dog back.”. Especially if he is now healthy.
Call the company and ask what they need from the shelter you adopted puppy from in order to change things. I’m guessing adoption contract and a letter from your vet that they found old microchip X is all it would take to get it updated.
Make sure your vet records indicate two chips. My dog has two - her previous owner is my breeder and I didn’t know she had a chip. The vet checked for one when they did a lumpectomy and didn’t find one because it had migrated to her elbow! Now she has two. My vet recommended putting “has two microchips” on her collar as another backup.
Thanks guys. He has a vet appointment tomorrow so I guess I’ll get the company name then. The chip migrated to his side, so if we do decide to remove it, then it should be a really quick thing. I guess it depends on what the company says!
