Kevin's Watch

OK, I posted this partly for danlo. He'll want to organize a parade, and all that. But there's something else. Check out the last paragraph.

February 19, 2008

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -- A cat that fled a house fire is back home in Albuquerque, N.M., after turning up some 240 miles away. The black and white cat named Miko disappeared in December, on the night of the fire.

About two weeks ago, Miko's owner got a call from an animal shelter in Pueblo, Colo., saying her cat was safe.

Officials at the shelter speculate that the cat, trying to keep warm, hopped a tractor-trailer and rode it to Colorado.

When they found her, her collar was missing. But shelter officials scanned the microchip in her neck and came up with her owner's name.

What cat has a microchip in its neck???? How can there be so many of these that a freakin' animal shelter has a scanner for it, and there's a national database???? I feel like I just woke up from a loooooong nap or something...

Pets have been getting chipped for several years now. Apparently they have no right to privacy.

yah, this has been going on for at least 15 years here. Meh, I have no problem with it. If I spent money on an dog or cat, I figure it's kinda like insurance...

Cats have no right to privacy? I'm screwed!!

poor dAN

dANdeLION wrote:Cats have no right to privacy? I'm screwed!!

What with being neutered and declawed and openly mocked on canihazcheezburger.com, privacy is probably a side issue.

wayfriend wrote:

dANdeLION wrote:Cats have no right to privacy? I'm screwed!!

What with being neutered and declawed and openly mocked on canihazcheezburger.com, privacy is probably a side issue.

It's not like cats are people.

Catpeople are a different matter, however.

dw

Furries are not people, either.

And Otherkin aren't human, and therefore it's not murder if I kill them.

Yep. That's been going on for several years now. There has been lots of cases where cats and dogs go missing, get picked up by a stranger who brings them to a vet's office or an animal shelter. They can then scan their neck, and find out the owner's name, address and phone number. If the contact info is still valid, the pet is usually reunited with its owner and everyone lives happily ever after.

Of course, this all dependent upon whether or not the animal shelter or vet's office has the equipment to scan microchips. Most vet offices and animal shelters are pushing for it, though.

EL wrote:Furries are not people, either.

And Otherkin aren't human, and therefore it's not murder if I kill them.

Perhaps not murder, but cruelty to dumba$$es?

Oooh, was that too judgy?


dw

Tommy's got a microchip -- the animal shelter had it "installed" before we got him. We got Morgan from a different rescue group, so she doesn't have a chip. I suppose we should get her one eventually. But she doesn't seem to be as inclined to follow me out the door as Tom is....

My dogs are both chipped, which is good because the smaller one has been known to run away and is a PITA to catch. The British government are determined to make everyone pay £250 for their own biometric ID card but I think that's a half measure. For that much money I don't want an extra card I have to carry around everywhere, give me an RFID tag in my arm any day.

At one point, in Albuquerque the stray pet population was so bad that they had to enact a very harsh series of laws. You cannot have a pet now without spaying/nuetering, shots, liscence and microchip. And sorry EL they are on the same level as humans, probably smarter-and they don't go out of their way to kill, like you.

I had my Haley microchipped. It cost $15, which covers the maintainence of my name and hers in a nationwide database. Like Danlo said, she is absolutely family to me--much like a child. If something were to happen to her, I'm sure I would mourn her like I would a friend or family member.

Seriously don't want to think about anything happening to my kitling.

our dog does not have a chip. but he does have a small tattoo.

Only 15 bucks for the "chipping"? I'll have to see about getting one for Morgan, next time I take her to the vet.

Yeah. I thought it was worth it--just in case she ever got outside. She likes to look out the window, but it terrified of going out. I know she would panic and get lost if she got out somehow.

We have a very big problem with feral cats here. It's a constant battle between city officials/residents who would like to get rid of them and animal-lovers who encourage them by feeding them. They have tried different methods for dealing with the problem over the years, and I don't know that any of the solutions have worked all that well.

sgt.null wrote:our dog does not have a chip. but he does have a small tattoo.

does he smoke and drink and stay out late too?