This week the American Veterinary Medical Association is sponsoring an official Check the Chip Day to remind all of us who are guardians for companion animals to be sure the microchips that would help return our furry friends to us, if lost, are working.
We have "Check the Microchip" at the top of our list of information and questions we bring to every visit with our veterinarian. Poppy is due for her annual check up and we'll have Courtney, her lovely vet tech, check to see that her chip is working at the start of the visit.
This is also an opportunity to write down that ID number in case you need it to update your contact information.
Think about anything else that may have changed over the past year that might require an update on the registration form for that chip and make the changes needed with your registry. If you can't remember which it is, your vet can tell you that from the ID number.
Here's a video that will help you understand how microchips are inserted into an animal, how they work, and why each animal that could escape from your home should have one. Did you know that your vet can even microchip your birds?
The Animal Rescue League of Boston is having an August special to encourage you to get those microchips in place. There is also more information about the topic at their link below.
We know that our family would travel more if the entire family were allowed to travel by train. Right now, there is a pilot program under way in Illinois and a bill pending in the US House (The Pets on Trains Act of 2015, or H.R. 674) that would begin to allow some people with dogs and cats to ride on Amtrak.
Poppy waiting for a ride on the MBTA
Our Westie Poppy is welcome on the MBTA outside of rush hours. All our dogs have been passengers on ferries in Boston Harbor, Provincetown, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and in Portland Maine. We have never witnessed an incident with dogs on any of these trips. And, on ferries, there is no size limit and no carrier is required.
Not all dogs are appropriate passengers on all mass transit systems. And, it is often the worst case scenarios and most irresponsible people who ruin something like this for the rest of us. We would love to see a registry for dogs and cats allowed to participate, with microchip scanning as a part of the ticketed access.
This way you would only have to sign the responsibility waiver once and any person with a dog who jeopardizes the future of the program could be barred. It would be much better to have barriers to behavior than to size.
Here's Poppy in the back of a Zipcar. We do all we can to be sure her presence is not a problem for the next member to reserve the car.
Learn More and Take Action
Please take the time to learn a bit more about the value of this program to: those of us with companion animals, the environment, and businesses, then contact those who can make it happen. (As of this writing, our Representative, Michael Capuano of Massachusetts, is a co-sponsor of the bill, so we'll be sending him our support and thanks.)
The sponsor of the bill, U.S. Representative Jeff Denham has said, “Last year I worked in collaboration with Amtrak, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and a small working group to launch a six-month pilot program to test the idea of having pets on trains,” said Rep. Denham. “This legislation builds on the success of that pilot program and would help families nationwide save money and time in traveling with their pets while bringing in much-needed revenue for Amtrak.”
The original Co-sponsor, U.S. Representative Steve Cohen said, “For many Americans, pets are simply part of the family—and all of us lucky enough to have pets are incredibly blessed by the companionship they provide.” “I am proud to work with my friend, Congressman Denham, on this important legislation to ensure families can bring their pets when traveling on Amtrak and that pets aren’t left behind to fend for themselves.”
Allowing people to leave the car behind and travel by Mass transit helps with the congestion on the highways and is less polluting.
Businesses (like hotels, shops, and restaurants) that cater to people who travel with companion animals could see an increase in business if this passes.
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