What is the microchip for? #Identifica! - History of Cuqy Mossau
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From the veterinary center of Cadaqués Es cau d'en Pinxo we want to tell you about a real case that we experienced two years ago and that demonstrates the importance of identifying with the microchip. The microchip greatly increases the chances of recovering your pet in case of loss or theft.
The story we tell you began at the Naturcan veterinary center in Roses. After finishing a visit, I went out into the waiting room and shouted "what's next?" A woman came in with a white Chihuahua who wanted to vaccinate him and chip him. According to her, she had given him an old lady on a staircase that she cleans and that she had said "yes, that she kept it for her children".
The story didn't seem very real to me. Over time, my training and practice in the clinic I have been able to experience many situations and learn about the bond between people and animals. Sometimes, the situation was so complicated to solve, that we had to ask for help from VIOPET. I have seen how institutions deny help to homeless people who have dogs, or even victims of gender violence who cannot receive help because they refuse to leave their animal behind. I've experienced situations in which some relatives pressured a grandparent to euthanize an animal, simply because they didn't want it at home, or because they considered that it was too much work, completely ignoring the emotional support that this animal provides to the grandfather. And the old lady gave you the dog because she lives alone? I couldn't believe it.
For all these reasons, my first step was to check if it had a chip, and it was, so I proceeded to look for it in any database. What appeared on the screen didn't quite fit... So I decide to call directly <a href="http://www.veterinaris.cat/CONSELL/cat/aiac.asp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">AIAC and check the chip number. There they inform me that the dog is listed as lost a month ago. While I'm on the phone, the lady runs out of the veterinary center, with the dog. I notify the local police and inform them of the situation. From the AIAC they tell me that the contact phone number they have does not answer calls and that they will continue to try, but they cannot provide it to me due to the Data Protection Law.
When I leave work, I can't get it out of my head. I have to find the owners, no matter what. I spend hours on the internet, google and facebook reviewing groups of animals lost in the area, looking for recent publications, but also from months ago, until I finally see her! It's her, I'm sure.
I call the phone indicated in the "LOST" sign they do not answer, I think that in their situation I would be waiting for the call and I doubt if they are really interested in finding the dog, so I decide to send a whatsapp without text, just the same sign of Cuqy Perduda. In a few seconds, my cell phone rings . The owners are outside the country and therefore did not answer (at that time there was a significant extra cost when answering calls from abroad). Obviously, they are desperate to get their dog back. I tell them everything, I tell them that we don't know where Cuqy is now but they are very clear: They are far away, but they come to Roses to look for Cuqy , it takes less than 24 hours.
The report of the facts is filed with the Mossos d'Esquadra police station.
The days go by and the owners look for Cuqy in their own way, identify the person who took the dog to the vet and meet with her to get Cuqy back . This person tries to place a dog that is not Cuqy , nor does it look like her. At that moment Cuqy's family asks us to help spread the word about the case, they believe that it is the only way to find her, and obviously, we collaborate.
After a few days, we receive a call from a shelter in the area. They tell us that a car has gone there, that it has left a dog at the door and has fled. They have a photograph with the license plate of the car, as they thought it was abandonment. They tell us that it has the microchip that we are looking for, but that it is not the dog in the photograph, that it is a different color. And that's how Cuqy Mossau manages to return to her family!
Cuqy Mossau is now home. We would like to thank the collaboration of all those who helped us to spread her case at the time , as well as those who have helped in the investigation and the law enforcement officers who have been involved. Surely without all of you this end would not have been possible.
Do you want to know other reasons why it is advisable to put the microchip? Read this blog and discover them!
If you have any questions about how the microchip works, the differences between AIAC and ANICOM or how to identify your animal, see our post