MEDIA STATEMENT

ISSUED ON FRIDAY 29 APRIL 2005

RANDBURG SPCA AND IDENTIPET DO IT AGAIN

It has been two years since Rodney was last seen. French, suave, man-about-town he was a frequent caller at a neighbour’s house. When they relocated, he was never seen again. It was assumed that he had elected to elope with them.

Now, in a strange twist of fate, Rodney has been reunited with the family he deserted two years ago – with the help of the Randburg SPCA and his Identipet microchip.

The Meyer family of Bryanston Ext 37 knew that their gregarious French poodle was a regular visitor at their neighbour’s home and that in effect he had two homes. They were naturally upset when he went missing and they assumed he had made his choice and had gone along with the other family when they moved.

In April 2005, a French poodle was brought to the Randburg SPCA where all stray animals are routinely scanned for the presence of an identifying microchip. The level of excitement of the SPCA staff is enormous when a the presence of a microchip is revealed as the owner of the animal can then be contacted.

In this case, it took a little while for the truth to sink in with the dog’s owners. They had given up ever seeing their pet again. Rodney the French poodle was returned to them two years after he had gone missing.

Anyone finding an animal is asked to please bear in mind that a “lost” or wandering  animal is not the property of the finder and must not simply be kept. The pet may well have strayed from a caring home and may be sorely missed. Burglars are known to leave property gates open. It is not unknown for animals to be stolen and later to run away.

If you find an animal, please take it to the nearest SPCA or veterinary clinic to be scanned for microchip identification. Stray animals must be taken to the nearest SPCA as this is where owners would come to look for missing animals.

Pet owners whose animals are not yet microchipped, can take their pets to SPCAs or to a veterinarian where this minor procedure can be carried out at a nominal fee. The SPCA movement endorses Identpiet and implants Identipet microchips.