FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Brett Mock
Date: February 26, 2007 Phone: 919-816-3565
AKC Companion Animal Recovery Introduces Revolutionary
Microchip
New chip to provide more
affordable alternative for veterinarians and animal shelters
Raleigh, NC – In its continuing effort to ensure the safety of all of America’s pets,
the American Kennel Club’s Companion Animal Recovery (AKC CAR) announced today
that it is introducing a revolutionary new pet microchip to the market. The new AKC CAR ID System™ microchip is
technologically superior and more affordable than microchips currently on the
market.
AKC
CAR and Electronic ID Devices, Ltd. (EID) have entered a distribution
agreement, where AKC CAR has become the exclusive distributor of TROVAN microchips
in the United States companion animal market. TROVAN transponders have been in
production and used in a variety of applications since 1991, using the most
modern operational and manufacturing technologies available.
The
new AKC CAR ID System™ microchips are
part of the U.S. 125 kHz standard, complying with the installed reader base
used for identifying lost microchipped animals in most animal shelters
throughout the United States.
“This new microchip will provide
veterinarians, animal shelters, breeders and pet owners an alternative to the
more expensive microchips currently being offered in the market,” said Dr.
Carmen Battaglia, president and CEO of AKC CAR. “Our commitment is to increase the number of pets microchipped
and enrolled in our recovery service in order to increase the number of lost
pets that we recover.”
Through a newly-designed delivery system, the AKC CAR microchip is
implanted between the shoulder blades just below the skin of the pet. The two-piece, patented lancet places the
microchip in the pet and then the lancet is simply retracted, leaving the chip
in the precise location intended by the veterinarian. Other applicators actually push the microchip into the skin
causing the risk of breakage and imprecise placement. Additionally, the AKC CAR
microchip is smaller than other microchips and therefore less likely to
migrate.
The AKC CAR microchip is compatible with the American standard of
microchips, meaning that it can be detected by multi-system scanners used in
animal shelters and veterinary offices nationwide.
Other reasons to
support the new AKC CAR ID System™ include:
·
AKC CAR is the nation’s largest not-for-profit recovery
service
·
AKC CAR provides a live operator, 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year
·
AKC CAR’s has enrolled over 3.5 million pets and recovered
over 320,000
·
AKC CAR’s not-for-profit status ensures a long-term
commitment to the pets in the database
·
AKC CAR funds veterinary student scholarships, search and
rescue teams, and disaster relief efforts
·
AKC CAR will continue to offer free updates to the pet’s
record
With
enrollment, every pet owner receives a FREE metal collar tag containing the
pet’s microchip number and the AKC CAR recovery hotline 800 number
(1-800-252-7894). The tag is a critical part of the recovery process,
particularly if the pet is found by an ordinary citizen.
“AKC CAR
has worked diligently to identify and distribute a superior microchipping
system,” continued Dr. Battaglia. “We
are confident that this new microchip will lead to more and more pet
recoveries.”
###
About AKC Companion Animal Recovery
AKC CAR, an affiliate of the American
Kennel Club® and a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, is the largest
non-profit recovery service provider in North America. Established in 1995 as a
public service to help pet owners reunite with their lost animals via
identification and live operators, the
organization has enrolled over 3.5 million
companion animals and recovered over 315,000 lost pets.
AKC CAR makes donations annually for
veterinary student scholarships, grants for search and rescue teams and
donations for natural disaster relief.
For
more information visit www.akccar.org,
call 1-800-252-7894 or email found@akc.org.