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Franny
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Good Morning!

I'm new to this board, just wanted to say Hi!..I don't have my baby yet, he's in Tenn., and I do have a picture, but don't know how to post it..lol..He's a black and white BC..and will be 12 weeks on the 2nd..I have been reading this board on a daily basis, trying to soak up as much info as I can, (I admit..I'm sooo addicted), I'm still curious on the Raw diet..and I don't think I've seen a post on Microchips..any thoughts on a particular brand? whats good, whats not?

Thanks!

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Hi Franny, welcome to the boards. If you're doing background reading on border collies, you might find the ABCA website interesting also. The ABCA (American Border Collie Association, Inc.) is the principal registry for border collies in the US.

 

Among the people I know who microchip, most seem to prefer the AVID system.

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Hi Franny,

There was a discussion a while back about microchips--Avid in particular. Funny thing, I have two dogs that were chipped a while ago with the Home Again chip (the one that's somehow affiliated with AKC). When I went to get another dog chipped several weeks ago, the vet told me it was Home Again, but when I got the tag it was blue, not the Home Again yellow. Didn't really matter to me, but I thought it was funny that the vet didn't seem to differentiate (i.e., didn't really know what chip they were using).

 

Anyway, I sent the Avid information in and am still waiting for confirmation that Kat has been entered into their database. That was the gist of the previous discussion about Avid--they are quite slow in registering the chipped dogs. Despite all the bad things AKC stands for I have to say that at least they were quite prompt with registering (or changing contact information on) the dogs with their chip!

 

Anyway, I don't think one type is better than the other, and apparently now the readers are universal and will pick up either chip, so it may come down to what your vet offers (or if you're the do-it-yourself type, you can get the supplies from Avid and DIY--don't know if the same holds for Home Again) or if you have the choice, then you might choose against HA because of the AKC affiliation.

 

Here is one discussion of microchips from a while ago (not the one I was thinking off, ntoed above):

http://bordercollie.heatherweb.com/cgi-bin...t=005039#000000

 

If you use the search function and use terms like microchip, Avid, Home Again, chipping, etc., you might find additional information.

 

J.

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The HomeAgain microchipping program used to be connected with the AKC and benefit them somewhat, but according to HomeAgain there is no longer any connection.

 

Franny, to post a picture, you first need to put it up on the web. Many people use free web hosting sites like www.photobucket.com or www.snapfish.com.. Once your picture is on a website somewhere, all you have to do to post a photo is to encase the URL of the photo by putting at the end of it. Don't leave any space between the URL and the brackets. Also, you have to include the "http://" part of the URL.

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Hi Franny,

 

Go HERE for instructions on how to post pics.

 

Looking forward to seeing them!

 

p.s Eileen, I had to write Boy's Home Again registration check out to the AKC, and that was in early Feb. I had to call 9 weeks later to get his info into their system, as they were still behind I guess. Had I known, I would have preferred AVID.

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As of right now, I have Dublin and one of my cats microchipped - done by 2 different vets, both use Home Again. Dublin's info I had to mail in myself and it took about 4 weeks for confirmation. My cats the vet mailed in and it took less than 2 weeks. Both were chipped within a month of each other).

 

I didn't even realize there were different brands of microchips. All 3 of my vets and everyone at work that I just asked (very animal friendly office) says they used HA. Maybe it is more common in the NE...?

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>

 

Thanks for telling me this, Miztiki. I have checked into it further, and I think this is the straight scoop: Until very recently, the Home Again Pet Recovery Service (HomeAgain), manufacturer of the HomeAgain chip, had a contractual relationship with the AKC whereby the AKC maintained the HomeAgain database as part of the AKC's Companion Animal Recovery (CAR) program. So when you got the HomeAgain chip (usually through your vet), you would make out a check to AKC to register your dog in the CAR database. As of mid-February, HomeAgain has severed its link with the AKC, and is maintaining its own database. Now you would register your dog by sending a check directly to the Home Again Pet Recovery Service (or so they have assured me).

 

BUT NOTE: The AKC still operates its CAR database, and still would be only too happy to register your dog in it, regardless of what kind of chip it has. So if you send them a check, they will take your money. (Sound familiar?) But it would be both unnecessary and silly to do that, because anyone who finds your dog and reads the HomeAgain chip will contact HomeAgain directly, not AKC.

 

If anyone uses HomeAgain in the future, and is told to make out a check to the AKC, please let me know, because I want to make sure what I've been told is accurate.

 

However, I still would prefer AVID, which has always maintained its own, much larger database, called PETtrack. Universal readers will read the chips of both HomeAgain and AVID, and both are acceptable for foreign travel.

 

Julie, are you sure your most recent chipping was with AVID? Is it possible it was HomeAgain, but under the new, non-AKC-affiliated system?

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aw.. Franny :rolleyes: I *hope* that your pup is not coming from a puppy mill, and he is healthy and happy. Still, be prepared for health and temperament issues down the road, if that kennel is what it looks like! :D this is why its important that anyone who buys from a breeder meets the breeder and the parents, or atleast buys from a highly reputable breeder. Its a shame when so many dogs are dying in shelters that crappy mills are still churning out pups :mad:

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Eileen,

It's just a website and I'm sure he can place or remove anything he wants, but check out the pup at the bottom of the page named Sky. After perusing the whole site, one would be led to believe that Sky is somehow affiliated with the ABCA (since he mentions CKC registration for other pups and then places ABCA next to this pup).

 

Not to mention his web address is ABC Border collies--I wonder if that was deliberate, you know, as a means of attaching those initials to his kennel name and thus further confuse potential buyers. Ugh!

 

KathyF,

Of course they're still breeding--they can make money and as long as *someone* will register the pups and others will buy them, who's to stop them. For any new or wannabe border collie owners out there, this is a very good example of why you shouldn't buy pups over the Internet.

 

Anyone,

As I was searching (no joy there) for the thread on Swafford and his ABCA membership being revoked because of unethical breeding practices, I happened on this thread, which though old, still contains good information.

 

http://bordercollie.heatherweb.com/cgi-bin...t=000482#000007

 

J.

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Eileen-

 

I had my cat chipped in April with HA and I had to write the check out to AKC and was enrolled in their database. There was some change though between the end of February and beginning of April - they raised their rates $5...maybe as a prelim to changing over...?

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Since Mr. Swafford was expelled from membership in the ABCA, he can no longer register dogs with the ABCA or certify their parentage. Two possibilities occur to me for why Sky would have "ABCA" next to her name. (1) He may be selling Sky "on consignment." If another breeder placed the pup with him for sale, and that breeder transfers the papers directly to the eventual buyer, Swafford's name will not appear anywhere on the papers. He will probably get a commission, but the ABCA will never know of his involvement. (2) Could be a "bait and switch" deal, where potential buyers contact him about Sky, and he tells them Sky has been sold but here are some other cute pups, who happen NOT to be registered with the ABCA. I don't know if either of these explanations is the case, but they seem the most likely ones.

 

As long as people buy from this type of breeder, this type of breeder will continue to exist.

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Franny, apparently we posted at the same instant. I didn't mean to sound harsh -- it's just a fact that people's willingness to buy from a breeder they know nothing about is what permits bad breeders to stay in business and make a profit. Please stick around and take part in our discussions. The more we learn, the more we know, and the more we can help to educate and inform those around us. The spread of knowledge in that way is probably our best hope to improve things for border collies and for all dogs.

 

I hope your pup turns out to be everything you hoped for.

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Miztiki, you are probably dual registered with the HomeAgain database, but to make sure you would need to call 1-866-738-4324, click on 8 when they read the menu to you, and then ask the service rep. You'll need Boyden's chip number so they can look it up.

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