has anyone had/considered having their Rabbit microchipped? I found a website which offered to do it http://www.yorkshire-microchipping.co.uk and seen as we are having the kitties done soon I thought it might be an idea to have the buns chipped as well.

In America its a current issue in the rabbit world http://www.rabbit.org/chapters/san-diego/behavior/microchip.html but as they say here I am dubious that any shelter would scan a rabbit if it was handed in although the RSPCA claim to http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCA/RSPCARedirect&pg=RabbitsPetCare&marker=1&articleId=1154077763281. Do you think its worth while?

Personally I think chipping a rabbit, or indeed any other small animal is pretty pointless. I've done rabbit rescue and the type of places that rescue small furries, are very unlikely even own a scanner to be able to read any chips a rabbit may be carrying. The RSPCA may well have scanners and scan rabbits which end up at RSPCA Centres, but most rescued rabbits end up in small private rescues.

Unlike dogs and cats rabbits are generally contained either in a hutch or indoors, unlike dogs and cats which frequently escape home and gardens and go roaming.

I would also be concerned about the microchip moving under the skin of a rabbit, even a big rabbit is light on muscle compared to a cat or dog, I would think chipping a rabbit would be like trying to chip a chicken.

I would like to do it but my concern is exactly that, with the exception of the RSPCA, centers would be unlikely to check a rabbit assuming it wouldnt have a chip. They could have the animal scanned at the vets so owning a scanner isnt a big issue for most.

What it really needs is a national awareness scheme to be effective but I suspect this is along way in the future.

It is surprising how many rabbits escape or get lost/stolen but obviously the risk isnt as great as to a dog or cat. ive had two break free this year but have coaxed them back fortunately and we have a 'lost' (I suspect abandoned) bunny living with us at the moment.

All our parrots are chipped, though a specialist job to do it. some of the more valuable koi in my pond are too. Have know some reptile owners have their animals chipped too.

What is the likelyhood of those chips being checked blues?

I never would have thought of chipping fish!!!

I wanted to chip my bunny, i have had my dogs and cats done so why not my bunny, My vet almost fell over laughing!
My view is that while most people may not have scanners i have done my best to make sure if she did get out she could/might be returned safely.

Claire

I suppose the other thing to bear in mind is a lot of rescues take any new rabbits to the vets to be neutered/vaccinated/health checked before rehoming and some will routinely get rabbits scanned to check for a chip especially if its a stray.

I think if there is even a small chance the rabbit will end up in a rescue that scans for chips its still worth doing as it does improve the odds of finding the rabbit.

Saying that though none of mine are chipped but they are kept indoors. We will be putting some of them outside in the spring next year and they will be chipped, as there is a higher chance of theft/escape.

Louise

I would urge anyone who is chipping in order to back them up in case of theft, to get their animal's DNA checked. I know the missing pets bureau will keep a record of the animal's DNA on file though I don't know who else would or if you could get it done at your vet's.

Chips do not prevent theft and there are loopholes in the system through which an animal found to be chipped, cannot be taken off the 'new owners' if the chip doesn't belong to them.

A dalmatian bitch went missing a couple of years ago, she had a chip and when the new family - who had bought her from whoever stole her - went to get her chipped, it was found that she already was. The family went through petlog to get the original owner's permission to change the chip and although the original owner wouldn't agree to it, she couldn't find out who now had the dog.

Two years later, the dog was left in a pound when the family emigrated and the owner found out later that the dog had been put to sleep because they assumed she belonged to the family who left her there.

A chip doesn't guarantee anything in the event of theft, unfortunately :(

TBH I am less concerned about the theft of the rabbits than the prospect of them escaping as all my hutches are padlocked. If rabbits were routinely chipped alongside dogs and cats then the prospect of reuniting those who are genuinely lost every year would be much greater, easing the pressure on rescues and fosterers and even preventing supposedly abandoned rabbits being pts.

Unfortunatley for the rabbits that are stolen every year the majority are taken to be mutilated and killed for the entertainment of sick minded individuals, not as a new family pet.

Oh I know Sooz but there were some saying about theft, so thought I'd better make a point of it :)

Microchipping is the best way of getting your pet back if its lost. Its not a guarantee, but its better than nowt.

am amazed there's still so much debate about it......

JUST GERRIT CHIPPED

:)

Microchipping is the best way of getting your pet back if its lost. Its not a guarantee, but its better than nowt.

am amazed there's still so much debate about it......

JUST GERRIT CHIPPED

:)

thats my thoughts on it, and has proved ownership for me in one case already (with that pet returned to me, her rightful owner). costs next to nothing to do (As I am a trained 'chipper' with the kit) so why not?. My dogs are also DNA profiled, done with the kennel club and recorded on their KC documents. Also cheaper with the kennel club (one off fee of £15) when compared to cost with missing pets bureau (either annual fee or one hefty lifetime subscription last time I enquired). Only applies to dogs though. there is a company called avian biotech who will dna profile birds, other animals?, dunno?

I'm getting Bobby chipped at his next appointment Sooz - I never even thought about it until I looked on the rabbit.org article a while ago. Although Bobby is a house bun, he will be going on the garden for a couple hours a day again starting in about March when it will be warm enough for him. It would really, really break my heart if anything happened to him, so I'm taking all measures I an to ensure that he doesn't get lost.

I have picked up several straying dogs, and have not had any scanned at a rescue centre yet - I take them to Brude's vets for that, so if I found a bun in my garden or out on a local field, it would get the same treatment

Just do it Sooz :thumbsup:

Chipping is becoming so common now that it's reasonable to assume if anybody cares enough to want their pet back they'll have it done - if they aren't bothered and may have abandoned it, they won't ;)