All my dogs are chipped. I dont think its a big deal because its just a shot. I dont think you need to get a bunny chipped unless they go outside, however i doubt it would hurt anything…

We seriously thought about having our bunnies done, but decided not to. I’m actually kind of wishing we’d done it. While we might not let the animals just wander around outside there’s alway a chance that one could escape in an emergency (like a fire). If they’re chipped then at least we’d have some kind of chance of getting them back.   Cats and dog are chipped.
– Annette

When I got HB at the humane society I asked about it.  They said no since I was keeping him indoors.  I probably would do it if it isn’t expensive. I just never asked the vet here about it.

Though it does seem kind of creepy to have something like that under the skin.  I would for sure do horse cat dog if I had those pets.

While I do belive that the benifit outweighs the risk in animals like dogs, cats, horses, and even birds(such as those expensive parrots!), I wouldn’t do it for my bun, only because there is a risk of cancer involved. I don’t travel with her, and she never leaves a fenced inclosure in a fenced yard. Most of our dogs are microchipped, especially because I take them out and about and a few of them are small enough to very easily be stolen.

Allenj1- Yes its just a shot, or at least it is here. They dont need to cut them open or put them under or anything, just a big needle with a tiny chip in it you could hardly see. Its not like a constant radar thing, if they get picked up by a shelter, humane society, vet office etc. then they scan them and it brings up their chip number. Which will have all its info such as its vet, your name, email, phone, address and animals name, I think lol

There is only a tiny risk of cancer involved from my understanding (very few possible cases reported).  Your indoor bunny would more likely be in danger of getting outdoors than ever getting cancer from a microchip.  Microchips are admin thru injection- they are about the size of a grain of rice and are injected between the shoulder blades.  When an animal is a stray- shelters, rescues and humane societies scan them when they are first admitted.  And depending on where you are adopting from- microchipping may not even be an option, it can be mandatory.  Maybe people would think twice about dumping a bunny that traces directly back to them!

My dogs are chipped, my cats, my parrot and one of my bunnies (done at time of spay).  My other rabbit was spayed before I got her.  I only got her about a month ago- and would definitely consider chipping.

I prefer to do it when they are under for an anesthetic procedure- the needle is pretty big- so especially on the smaller pets I feel better if they are sleeping.  But my parrot was done awake- as he has never needed anesthesia.

It is very common to ask at time of spay/neuter about microchip.  I don’t take my rabbits outside- but in case of emergency (fire, break in, pet is stolen) I would rather be safe than sorry.

Often you can not even feel it under the skin- but sometimes you can.  I have never seen a pet bothered by one long term- at first it might hurt a little, the area can be sore, swollen, etc- but not worse than most injections.

EDIT: I should add that most humane societies are able to microchip a pet much cheaper than a vet clinic can- when a humane society chips every adopted animal- that is a lot of chips!  So they buy in bulk (big time) and usually get better rates from the company on top of the bulk discount.  I have seen in my area special events where they will microchip for as low as $15, but it can run about $50 at a vet clinic.  There are different brands of chips- some need additional registration fees, some do not, so it really all depends.  I have 3 different chip brands- Dogs are Home Again, Parrot is Avid, bunnies and cats are 24 hour pet watch.  That is what was offered at time of spay/neuter/adoption.  If you are getting a parrot done- I would only ever have it done at an avian vet- as the chip is injected into the breast muscle.

we had conversations about this before. i believe BB said that where she lives, they’re very prone to earthquakes and wildfires, so in those cases, you might have an added layer of protection just in case. an issue arises tho in that not EVERY shelter might think to scan a bunny for a microchip, a cat or dog yes, but maybe not a bunny. it’s something i would do if my buns were ever allowed outside without being inside a carrier. i live in a heavily wooded area and fleas are a serious risk here, so mine cannot experience the great outdoors. another issue is that many domestic buns might not live long enough to be caught.

i think they asked me when i had Mead spayed… don’t recall what the cost was. i’ve seen signs at a local petstore that does grooming that they also offer microchipping for about 20 bucks.

nice call on folks not being able to dump their pets! wouldn’t that be fitting if some moron dumps their animal and a week later gets a knock on the door!

Rupert came chipped; I’m honestly not sure if Chuck is. Its something I’d like the other two to have, like mentioned, if a natural disaster occured, it could get them back to me; I’d thought it was funny Rupert was chipped, a rabbit being chipped…

But even he was a stray at one point, and who knows-maybe someone wanted him back, he just escaped?

Most of our animal shelters where I live I don’t even think would check for a chip on a rabbit unfortunately or else it might be a good idea if your area is prone to natural disasters. My rabbits never go outdoors either so I wouldn’t consider it.

I’ve never heard of anyone ever getting a rabbit done. Around here it is only common in horses and pedigreed cats and dogs.

Wally came with a chip – though I’m not sure where it is. The Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society microchips all of their buns before adopting them out. Kind of a neat idea I guess, but I don’t think I’ll get it done for Noelle or anything.

I was under the impression that there are several different companies that make chips for animals – and of course they are NOT compatible with the same reader. And that most shelters and vets only have one type of reader – so they may or may not be able to read what ever chip is in your pet.

I also can’t help but wonder when people are going to start putting chips in their kids!

There is some microchip controversy- European chips are a diff frequency than the US chips.  Even if a reader will not read an Avid number- it will read that there is an Avid chip.  So it does not completely skip it- we just had to refer someone to another vet clinic 1/2 mile way with an Avid reader.

Think of how many dogs, cats and maybe even bunnies from Hurricance Katrina disaster that would have been returned to their owners or were able to be held awhile for their owners while they relocated.  Of course- look how many dogs had heartworm  , so it is not like they had stellar owners to begin with.

I know that the Oakland shelter chips their rabbits. SaveABunny has even rescued a couple of ‘strays’ that were chipped so the owners got them back (Well I think one owner didn’t want the bun anymore and set it free – typical).

As for the chipping the kids – they currently have many devices out there that can locate your kid if he wanders off. They have a limited range right now (something like 1000 feet in open areas) but there is one that is being developed for use with GPS sattelites. It also can tell you if your kid falls over via some sort of shock sensor so you can tell if they’ve hurt themselves.

There are also a couple of companies that are trying to get FDA approval to begin testing such chips in people. The first that they’re going with is a little less Orwellian that carries your medical history with you so that they can immediately identify you and any special medical needs yu have in case of an accident.

Yep the days coming we will all be chipped. Our passports are. I hope the chipping won’t be as bad as people say it will eventually be. Ah so you read the Orwell  I think the book was 1986?

Yes, BT, I read 1984. Scared me to death. Also Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. I am an old school conspiracy theorist. Sometimes you just have to wonder WHY some technologies are developed. There are 6 billion people in the world. They’re going to have to be controlled by something someday, somehow. Why not start small with the animals? Get people used to the idea.
Or the one that gets me, your aging mum or dad gets Alzheimer’s and starts wandering off on their own…you NEED a chip to tell you where they are when you can’t find them. And just how long before we ALL need such a thing? I don’t like to think about it. >.<

But even without that, I believe in the prophecies that say one day we will not be able to buy or sell without a mark. I think the chip is the beginning of that system. I will not allow it in my animals or my children. My kids are almost full grown adults, so their lives will soon be their own, but I wouldn’t have a chip put in any of my animals if you paid me. I can’t believe the cost, that seems a bit steep!

I know I can’t say I will never lose any of my pets, but I just can’t get my mind around microchipping. It just feels…wrong. And with my luck (and considering where I live) if animal control came out with their GPS to locate my lost pet, they’re only going to find the angry grizzly that just ate it! 0_o

Sorry, don’t mean to get morbid. This thing just bugs the heck out of me.

Well lots of countries have identity cars that you have to carry around with you at all times so it seems natural progression that it would ‘be easier’ if it were just a chip…and then comes the mind control lol!

I’m an old school conspiracy theorist too Mimzmum, and 1984 & BNW are excellent books to read it you want to start being paranoid about everything! Australia suggested introducing an identity card and some people were really receptive to the idea so we joked that the government had already gotten to them.

I think Alaska just voted down some new kind of chip/DNA or fingerprint/ID here in our primaries back in June. As it is, I think you need a passport now to go through Canada from here to the US? 0_o Never needed that before.
I think they’ve even made it so that your pets have to have passports so you can take them to other countries? Maybe it was just a rumor?

I am going to read those books again.   I believe there is a website on aldous huxleys book and orwell too. Our passports already have tracking chips in them.

I didnt’ know that about Alaska.  Yeah I remember that passage from the bible saying about needing a ? to buy or sell. I was watching History channel yesterday about the Antichrist. It mentioned all those theories too.  Was interesting.

There was a group of religious people their leader said the day of judgement will be on May or 1800 somethign or other. They quit their jobs neglected their crops and sat on a hill and waited. Nothing happened. Then they called it the great dissapointment. Heheehe.

I beleive when radio and tv first came out some people thought that is the end too. Then fingerprinting. Then DNA.  But doggone those earthquakes and fires sure are getting more n more frequent aren’t they.

We muslims believe in the day of judgement too and the anti christ. He will have 1 eye like a grape bulging and ugly. He will do the same things the bible says too.  He will also cut a man in half then put him back together and make him live again. Similar to the bible.

a chip the size of a piece of rice sounds icky.   Yeah kind of a deep subject for sunday too. Sounds creepy though. To have our medical history banking and so on on a chip. Hey I got rice (chip) in my neck, wrist or where ever.  Can I cook it and eat it? Yeah I will save it for when I get hungry and eat my last grain of rice.  ( chip) hehee.

Have you seen Dark Angel on scifi?  Her barcode on her neck. I am watchign a good movie here I am going back n forth. oh a commercial ok good.  Now i can explore the other posts.

If I were showing rabbits I would have chips in them so they don’t all get mixed up and lost at the show. You know. IT is hard to me to imagine a needle big enuf putting a hold in their delicate little skin. I would probably pass out. Needle phobias. Phew. The pet would probably be just fine and wondering why i hit the floor and was out cold. lol.

I support using microchips in pets since the only way they can ever TELL someone who their owner is- is with the use of microchips.  Collars and tags are easily lost or slipped- or not worn (my cats or bunnies or parrot).  And tattoos do not have a good enough nationwide system for finding the owners.

My dogs also have a Mich Dept of Agriculture tattoo on the inner left thigh- and that number is registered to me.  And anyone stealing a tattooed pet is committing a felony- so I keep the tattoo tag on their collar to deter dog thieves.  Ironically enough these dogs are rarely out of my sight when they are outside- and they have excellent recall as Aussies are “Velcro” dogs.  But I won’t take the chance of not getting them back in case they do get lost or stolen.

So my dogs are chipped, tattooed, and wear a collar with ID tag, county license, microchip tag and tattoo tag.  Overkill? Yes, but my dogs belong with me!

i can understand how this topic can have a lot of differing opinions. i guess i think about it this way… if your dog was lost tomorrow, wouldn’t you feel more comfortable/hopeful knowing that if they were picked up by the city, there’s a chance they could be returned to you? collars can fall off but the chip is almost like an insurance policy. i see so many lost pet posters EVERYWHERE. on telephone poles, hanging in grocery stores, vet offices, gas stations, petstores, literally everywhere. i bet every one of those people wished now looking back they had done everything they possibly could to insure that their pet could be identified in any situation. i hope that anyone here who chipped their pet never has to actually go thru this situation, but things happen.

After reading this post I’m still up in the air about getting my two chipped.

My kittens are and my dog is, my older cat isn’t yet. 

My buns do go outdoors on nice days, noly with me, I take my book and sit in the pen with them on the back patio, so I don’t worry much about them running away.  They’re little shadows who never leave my side.  But after the idea of a burglary or fire that they may need it, it does change my mind a bit. 
And everyone has a different opinion, so I’m still on the fence  hmmm

I’m extremely fearful for my two, if they ever got away from me I don’t know what I’d do.  They both require special care, and I can only imagine a shelter around here not checking for a chip and just putting them down becasue they’d require a super special person to care for them and put up with their brattiness.

But I will say I do like the idea very much of chipping people and tracking them by satelite
It’ll save a lot of children and adults from going missing, being kidnapped, getting lost.
I have a step brother whos autistic and wanders a bit, so if he gets away in a public place he can’t communicate himself and something like a tracker would be great!

Getting them chipped couldn’t hurt. Really. And 50.00 isn’t that bad. I wonder if the humane society here checks? I would have to call and see.

Someone mentioned earlier that the people who dump their rabbits if they are found and caught would be getting a call hey we found your rabbit.

For me it is the needle thing I am so phobic about those things. agh. Good think I never became a nurse. Having procedures done on myself if I get sick and knowing the size of those huge needles they poke into your heart or what not. I would have to be knocked out first. Or passed out.

I’m just glad it’s something that we have to actually pay and give consent for currently. Could you imagine being afraid of getting injections or needed medicine intravenously, not just for the needle, but because they might try to ‘sneak’ one of those nasty things into your skin? Ick! >.<

I remember seeing the Dark Angel series. She was a genetically engineered human, right? It was a pretty cool show. Gotta love sci-fi! ^_^