Christine Bryant Times correspondent

Veterinarians and rescue groups have used microchips to identify lost pets for nearly three decades, yet convincing pet owners to get their pets microchipped can be challenging, veterinarians say.

Those who microchip their pets often then fail to take the one crucial step that makes them effective.

While microchips do not track a pet’s location, they provide a tool that can identify a lost pet by linking it back to its owner, said Dr. Matthew Mottel, a veterinarian at Avenue Animal Hospital in Tinley Park. He recalled a recent case where an injured dog arrived at the emergency room as a suspected stray.

“The owners had the dog microchipped and were immediately contacted,” he said. “They arrived at the ER and were happy to be reunited.”

An analysis

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