Microchips are a great way to secure the return of your dog should he or she get lost. However, the case of Stephen and his owner Joseph Stremlau is living proof that just having a microchip is not enough. The information has to be updated in order for the device to properly carry out the function it was designed to do. Therefore, Purebredbreeders.com suggests that this may be a good time to update your dog’s chip if it has been awhile since you last did.
Stephen’s Story
Stephen is a 4-year-old beagle brought in from Japan by his owner who got, and outfitted him with a microchip, while serving in Japan. Stremlau is now back home and attending college, so the dog was staying with his brother at the time it got loose. The beagle ended up at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona or HSSA, where the chip was scanned, but that did not make finding Stremlau easy. In fact, the chip was last updated in 2010 while the pair were still in Japan. The center went to great lengths to find the owner through press releases, and even calls to the Davis Monahan Air Force Base just in case he was still in Japan. Purebredbreeders.com understands that the two were reunited after family members saw the press releases on TV.
What This Teaches Us
Purebredbreeders.com is elated that the two are reunited, both because a dog belongs with his or her loving owner, and because we have seen cases that did not end this well. HSSA did an exceptional job, but not many places have the time, passion, or resources to keep searching. Protect your pet even further by ensuring that his or her ID is updated, no matter the form. It is always best to secure a speedy and safe return as much as you possibly can; it is better for everyone involved.
Zackery is a PurebredBreeder.com columnist who writes features on a variety of dog related topics. He is also a big fan and attendee at many of the dog shows on the East Coast, and has a vast knowledge of the characteristics of the breeds and their special needs. He is not just a fan though, he has the ability to help plan shows or advise potential contestants as well as everyday owners on the best methods for training and housebreaking. He even uses this expertise to help man the Purebred Breeders Customer Service line where he feels he has a unique opportunity to educate a wide audience by answering question.
Always a giver, Zackery considers his association with our Purebred Breeders Puppy Mill projects as a great source of self-fulfillment and sees his job as another forum through which he can impart his skills, meet fellow dog lovers, discuss ways to enhance each dog’s quality of life, and bring more joy to their owners. He also delights in going through the emails received via Purebred Breeder Reviews. Zachery is lover of classical music, ballroom dancing, travelling and reading. He is a die-hard Mets fan as well who keeps connected with his friends and associates through Facebook and Twitter.
