This essential discussion should be referenced in new posts about microchip scanning at vet offices for all intakes.
It is sad (but telling) to read Amanda's observation that most private veterinarians do
not have ORE dogs scanned prior to performing euthanasia. Why not?
Clinic staff are not compensated for the time to scan and check a chip database?
Concern about offending an established or potentially new client?
There have been several confirmed instances where rescues have pulled healthy dogs from large municipal shelter systems (where all dogs are microchipped upon placement) for screened fosters who requested to care for a specifically posted dog. Then, if that dog was not a good fit or became fractious (typically due to not following rescue guidance about decompression time and slow introductions) the dog was brought to a private veterinarian for euthanasia without first contacting the rescue, violating the "Return to us if you can no longer care for..." clause of the foster contract.
As the microchips were not checked (which would have tracked back to the rescues) healthy dogs were put down. The rescues only found out after-the-fact doing a routine progress check, often requiring some persistent detective work to expose that fosters had been concealing the true status of their foster.
No method of foster screening is perfect. No shelter dog behavioral assessment is perfect. Microchip searches can yield only dead ends.
But still, there is no ethical justification for private veterinarians
not to scan microchips to prevent such tragic occurrences. In the absence of an amendment or clarification to existing
Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics (see attached), advocates can work with state-level legislators to propose and enact changes to Dog Law statutes.
#microchipscanningdogs #euthanasia #vetoffice #dogfoster
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Greg Smalley
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-16-2019 09:13 AM
From: Amanda Forbes
Subject: Scanning for microchips in owner requested euthanasia
My question is a bit specific but I wanted to gauge what other organizations out there are doing. We offer owner requested euthanasia (ORE) as a service to the public and part of our procedure is that we scan the animal for a microchip prior to performing the euthanasia, and confirm that it is registered to the owner listed on the the ORE paperwork. Often this holds up the procedure, which is already emotional for the owner, while we verify this information. We have only run into one circumstance where we were actually able to contact a person who gave the dog away and was upset it was being euthanized (it was medically necessary), but the majority of the time if it is not registered to the owner listed on the ORE paperwork it is either unregistered or not updated in order to contact anyone. The private practice veterinarians I have asked have indicated that they do not do this. While our ORE paperwork does indicate that they legally attest to being the owner of the animal, microchips are also proof of legal ownership. I will also mention that we do assess ORE animals prior to euthanasia and if we think it is unwarranted or have resources to otherwise help the animal we will and reserve the right to place the animal in our adoption program or transfer to an appropriate rescue, so we are not just euthanizing because an owner asks us to. Any input from other organizations who offer this service is appreciated. Thanks!
#OrganizationalManagement