That is a sad fact, Phred. And sadly too, many humane (I use that term loosely) socieites and shelters fail to really check, even if they DO have the equipment available!

The whole Banfield situation is reprehensible. I would certainly caution anyone against getting that chip placed in their dog at this point.

My dogs have the AVID chip. I paid $50/dog to have it put in Honey and Lilly. Zipper's came free as a result of being a rescue boy. But all 3 of them wear identification on their collars as well. I know many people remove their dog's collars for safety reasons, but I am convinced that we are safer having our dogs wear their collars at all times, just in case. Murphy, our old lady, is not chipped, nor does she wear a collar (because she has a reoccuring cyst on her neck, right where the collar rests), but she also rarely goes outdoors, except just to do her business, under our watchful eyes, and then she is right back inside.

Logan