Would you recognize your pet? How?

Another strong case for microchipping your pet!

Original news story:

http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/991--dog-owner-convinced-kennel-gave-him-back-wrong-pet

And the followup story:

http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/04/lake_oswego_case_of_mistaken_c.html


Are your pets chipped? Without reading the chip, how would you recognize your pet, assuming there was another one out there that looked very similar?

For us, Brinkley has two scars on his left lower eyelid where the hair hasn't grown back. We've taught him non-verbal hand signals that he would respond to immediately, but another dog wouldn't since they're somewhat obscure. Lastly, he has a few freckles on his stomach.

Re: Would you recognize your pet? How?

oh gosh what a good question. frankie is microchipped, but if say the microchip didn't work and he lost his collar, the only distinct marking i could think of would be this band of lighter colored fur on his tail. but, if for some reason he lost his fur, i just don't know! i'm going to investigate now....

Re: Would you recognize your pet? How?

both our dogs are microchipped but if they werent it wouldnt be hard to recognize them. busy has a scar from when a pitbull bit him and he's also missing a nail on one of his back paws (birth defect). and chewy has a patch of really dark grey hair on his back.

Re: Would you recognize your pet? How?

Norway is a reject guide dog so he has two tattoos with his ID number.

It would be no problem to recognize him!

Re: Would you recognize your pet? How?

Rocco have a microchip but if thatn doesnt work he have undebite and under his mouth/ neck area he have a white patch of hair

Re: Would you recognize your pet? How?

My pets are chipped and I THINK I would recognize them but I am sure I could be wrong in some strange senario.

Re: Would you recognize your pet? How?

Riker is chipped. I can't imagine me not knowing my own dog though. There are things that they do, pattterns they follow, ways they respond to different situations, commands, words, etc. I think if I was in a room with 20 other field spaniels, I would be able to find my dog. Now I want to try it just for fun!

Re: Would you recognize your pet? How?

Hades (my kitty) is chipped. I guess if he wasn't, he is a big 16 lb cat with a fluffy underneath and lots of excess skin since he is so long. He also has a black spot on his pink noise. But his pattern is common.

I can't imagine not recognizing him though.

Re: Would you recognize your pet? How?

Mine are all chipped but I would absolutely without a doubt be able to tell them from any other Savannahs. I know every nuance of every spot, mark and trait of my cats.

Re: Would you recognize your pet? How?

Two of my 3 horses are branded. One has a unique farm brand on his hip and the other raced -- so he has his "tattoo" number freeze branded on his neck. No other horse will have that particular brand. The third horse is microchipped, but I could recognize him anywhere. He has a very unique scar on his mouth from when he was younger, for example, and he has some other unique things about him. I know my three horses better than I know myself sometimes. I have NO doubts that I would be able to tell them apart from any other horse.

My cats have very unique markings, but anything is possible. They aren't microchipped yet, but they will be. They are indoor only cats and I absolutely know I could tell them apart from any other cats... but that doens't mean they shouldn't be chipped.

Message edited 12/20/2009 2:54:28 PM.

Re: Would you recognize your pet? How?

How scary! My dog is microchipped but he has a scar under his chin and a spot on his belly.

Re: Would you recognize your pet? How?

pokey is not chipped- he is also not allowed outside- but there is no doubt I recongnize him- (he doesn't look like most persians and his lion cut is a give away)

I feel the same way about maggie- I have never seen another cat that looks like her- plus she has a black streak from nose, mouth to paw

ETA- mine will be chipped when I move into a house- they would have to go thru too many doors now to get out

Message edited 12/21/2009 3:57:03 PM.

Re: Would you recognize your pet? How?

My kitty has a broken tail - so besides fur markings if somehow fur was missing I could tell from the crink in the end of her tail.

Re: Would you recognize your pet? How?

Well, Murray would be the one acting like a jerk

Murray is chipped anyway

And Disel has a whole bunch of scars around his eyes and hairless spots all over his elbow/feet areas and his butt

Message edited 12/21/2009 8:08:06 AM.

Re: Would you recognize your pet? How?

i would be able to recognize Buddy he has one white spot on a all black part on his upper right arm and I believe I can do it with Casey because her ears were cut but someone who doesnt know how to cut ears and she has scars on her inside leg and tail. but shes microchipped.

Re: Would you recognize your pet? How?

Dallas is trained but I suppose other people train their dogs to do the same things.
If anybody calls his name he will lovingly run into their arms, so I can't count on him. I just hope another poodle would not be as sweet.

I cut Dallas's hair myself and it looks pretty awful. That would be the give-away

Re: Would you recognize your pet? How?

Mine isn't but we live in a small community and he's house trained, but honestly there's no doubt that I would recognize him.

Re: Would you recognize your pet? How?

My dog is microchipped but I would def. recognize him. I have never seen a dog that has looked like him before but even if there was I seriously know every mark on him. Im such a dog mommy! I know his scars, his spots on his belly, places where he for no reason has no hair, white hairs randomly mixed in with his dark hair, marks on his nails, a spot on his nose..

im pathetic

Re: Would you recognize your pet? How?

i couldnt answer this question until today... hershey now has a scar on his nose from where miller scratched him! lol

Re: Would you recognize your pet? How?

My dogs are all microchipped