Dr. Suzanne Fariello got the full Gus treatment today, he forgives all the poking and jabbing he undergoes in there. He loves to lick noses.
Gus now has all of his shots and is perfectly fit to go out into the world, even though, as you know, he has been out in the world quite a bit. His next visit will be in November, when he is neutered.
Gus is beginning to get amorous with stuffed toys and chair legs, so I’m ready for neutering as soon as the vet says it’s okay.
I asked Dr. Fariello to insert a micro-chip into Gus, since he loves to greet everyone he sees and jump into every car with an open door, I thought it a good idea get a chip inserted. The chip costs $46 and is the size of a grain of rice, it’s inserted into the soft area on the dog’s back near the neck.
If Gus should get lost or run off (no signs of that) the chip will tell a vet or rescue group or good samaritan where he lives and who to contact to get him home. Red and Fate are also micro-chipped.
As you know, I’m not into all of the fear mongering and warnings that flood through social media about dogs being lost or stolen, but it seems like common sense to me to take this practical and inexpensive precaution.
I know a number of dogs who got away from home or their owners and were returned because of these chips. It takes a second to put them in the dog.
Almost everybody we meet says they’d love to steal Gus and take him home, and I know they are all kidding, but I think some of the worst suffering I’ve seen in the animal world is visited upon people whose dogs disappear for one reason or another and are not seen again. That is a hard road to travel. Dogs can run off, smell a mate (if they are not neutered), follow a smell, get frightened in a strange place.
That has never happened to me, nor do I expect it to happen but this painless and simple precaution seems right to me. So Gus has all of his shots, and has a chip as well. Back to therapy training and out into the world. He has been socialized within an inch of his life and is as ready for life as we can get him.
Good for you! $46 is a small price to pay for the peace of mind if your pet goes missing. Only one of mine ever got lost and the finder contacted my vet (phone number on tag) who called me to come get her. So, getting them chipped is a very responsible thing to do. You always do the right things with your dogs, in my opinion!!
In early March, 1999 we had a 19 month female salt and pepper miniature schnauzer stolen while my parents were dog sitting. Ever since then I’ve had my dogs chipped because I don’t ever want to experience that loss again. It’s hard enough to have to make the decision to put a dog to sleep, & it is even worse to have one ripped from your life.