[speedlever]

I thought this would be more appropriate on the Town Hall forum, but I cannot post there.

IAC, do most of you use the Homeagain microchip? We recently had Riley chipped and I just started to look through the information that came with it. I guess I mistakenly thought that chipping was all we needed to do. I didn't realize there were annual recurring costs to maintain the contact info, etc.

Have I misunderstood the process? Or is everyone comfortably paying Schering $15/year for this ($25 the first year)?

If you have more than one pet chipped, this could add up pretty quickly.

 

[mariposa692001]

Sabot is double chipped....I paid only one fee when he first got it...I think the only other costs are if I move or something.

 

[Burns]

HomeAgain has recently changed the way they do their service. Here is the information I wrote up to post on my veterinary hospital's website about it (this refers to cats since my hospital is feline-only, but the same exact thing applies to microchipping dogs):

HomeAgain® will be changing a few things in regards to their services.

What was the service before?
In the past, the microchip was implanted, and the owner paid a one-time activation fee of $17.50 to HomeAgain® to register with the national database.

If the cat became lost, the owner was responsible for calling local vets, shelters, and rescues to let them know the pet is missing and may be in the area.

Any stray animal found by a shelter, rescue, or veterinary hospital (all of which have microchip scanners), would be scanned for a microchip. If the scanner picks up a chip, the employee would call the HomeAgain® database, report the number, and the owner was contacted.

What is the service now?
Effective immediately, HomeAgain® has changed the registration cost from a one-time activation fee, to an annual membership fee. In return for annual membership, HomeAgain® is offering more proactive ways to recover lost pets, including:

• Issuing local alerts (like Amber Alert) to all local vets, shelters, and rescues in your area when you call HomeAgain® and report your lost pet.
• Ability to quickly create personalized “Lost Pet” posters with all your cat’s info by logging into your cat’s account on www.homeagain.com and printing the posters at home.
• The facility who finds your cat will receive critical health alerts such as if your cat is diabetic or has kidney disease, etc., and so your cat can have the proper medical treatment (if needed) until he/she is returned to you.
• You have online access to all your cat’s vaccination records. Printable vaccination info is convenient for emergencies or boarding.
• You receive a Pet I.D. card which contains your cat’s photo, name, breed, color, weight, age, gender, and vaccination information. You get an updated card every year.

What is the cost of membership?
The initial year will cost $24.99, which includes the $10.00 one-time activation fee and the $14.99 annual membership fee.

After the initial year, the cost is $14.99 per year. Additional pet annual memberships are $9.99 per year.

What is the cost of microchip implantation?
Each shelter, rescue, or veterinary hospital has different prices. The cost at The Cat Practice to have your cat microchipped is $45.00.

What if I don’t want to pay an annual fee?
If you’re cat is already microchipped, and you do not wish to pay the annual membership fee, the HomeAgain® service will default back to the old service.

If you are planning to have your cat microchipped, you will need to pay the initial $24.99 for the first year, but it is up to you whether you want to pay the annual membership fee after that to receive the extra benefits or not. The above benefits may give extra peace of mind to owners whose cats go or escape outside, or may become lost.

For more information regarding HomeAgain’s® new pet recovery system, please call 1-888-HOMEAGAIN, or go online at www.homeagain.com to edit your cat’s profile and to update your contact information.

So far, HomeAgain is the only company that is charging an annual fee for membership - though you don't have to pay annually if you don't want. The other companies, such as AVID, are still doing the same as before which is you pay a registration fee, and there is no annual fee.

Hope this helps.

 

[TheManInBlack]

According to the Homeagain FAQ page:

"The myth: the procedure to implant the microchip is too expensive.

The truth: while the price can vary from one veterinarian to another, implanting the microchip costs about $45. This is a one-time fee; the chip never needs maintenance or replacement. In addition, there is an annual fee to maintain access to pet recovery and database enrollment. "

So there is an annual fee. I have my Dobe in it. I can tell you first hand we found a dog with one of those tags and we called home again. They called every number on the list instantly. Down side was he was rescued out and the new owner never transfered the information (Seperate story not very pleasing). They were calling all the original numbers even though it wasn't maintained. I've only had my guy for less than a year so I don't know what the fee is. But I can tell you this, because he's a Dobe, and he doesn't have bullet proof recall, I'll skip one or two trips to McD's or 1 drink in Manhattan for the cost of the yearly fee.

 

[Julie W]

I use the Avid chips (even my bird is chipped). You only have to pay the annual fee if you want the "extra services" that come with it. If you want the same thing that they have always offered, then you still just pay the one-time registration fee.

 

[DreamDoby]

I have home again on all of my guys. I paid the one-time fee on them and have moved them twice. Transferred the info with no problem. Did in online and even had the vets office rescan to make sure that the numbers would pull up properly still and if enetered into the computer the correct info would come up. I am a worry wart with getting my dogs back incase something did happen.

One reason I went with Homeagain was because more vets around had Homeagain readers than Avid. For some reason, they don't want to jump that extra expense and get a universal reader.

 

[mariposa692001]

I went back and checked...Sabot only has the Avid chip...Paris is the one that is double chipped with Avid and Home Again....I need to go and put the Home Again one in Sabot because I think it is more universal.

 

[Tamena]

just checked here, Tucker has Home Again too. I logged in and was able to change some of the info that had been on my account (that was wrong, nothing major though) with no problem.

It did continue to encourage me to increase his coverage and up the membership though LOL

 

[tjmom]

We have our dogs chipped with Home again but we registed it with the AKC. I would check their site.

 

[MIA]

I use 24PetWatch which does NOT have an annual fee and is readable across North America.

 

[speedlever]

Thanks for all the responses. I didn't realize the "extra" services were optional for whatever the cost is for Homeagain.

I put Riley's chip code on the AKC papers. But the information was not very clear as to what AKC does nor what the options are with Homeagain.

I'll look into it further.

 

[Jenny]

ok - I lack organizational skills. I went to look up isabelle's chip info & I can't find it. Well, at least I manage to keep track of her! I can't remembered what we paid but there was a one time charge and that was it. . . I should probably find that - can't find her papers either hmmmmm

 

[Dobemom2b]

I use 24PetWatch which does NOT have an annual fee and is readable across North America.

They have kept the option open that they may charge a yearly fee after the first year. I couldnt find it on the site but it was in the reg confirmation letter from them.

They also did not include a collar tag when I registered my shepherd with them and did not reply to my email asking about it. The site does still state a tag is included and sent. (she already in akc car and avids databases) without a tag how many would even know to contact them?

 

[Tinyfxds]

Rock is chipped by Avid Friendchip. As far as I know there is no annual fee for this chip.

 

[speedlever]

Update: the Homeagain agreement does not appear to give the option of declining the renewable service.

Riley is registered with the AKC CAR (companion animal recovery) service:
http://www.akccar.org/

I believe we paid a one time fee to the AKC CAR when we registered her with the AKC and chose the option.

I don't know if the homeagain service adds anything over the AKC service or not.

 

[Dobemom2b]

I ordered a homeagain chip from an online store for the new doberboy. The chip hasn't arrived yet. I could not find any prices for homeagains service on their site at all (I did not have a chip number, the prices could possibly show once the # is filled out on the form) . Odds are I will not use the chip and just order a avid chip for him.

Neither AKC car or Avid charge a yearly fee or a fee to make address/contact changes. I believe they both have a fee to totally transfer the registration only if the animal goes to a new owner.

I found and resurected this topic searching to find what chips others were using. My shepherd is avid chipped but I am concerned as to which chip readers most places have to find a chip.

 

[speedlever]

That's a good question. I was led to believe that the Homeagain was the most widespread chip in use and the one most readers could read.

I don't know if that's true or not.

 

[Burns]

Neither AKC car or Avid charge a yearly fee or a fee to make address/contact changes. I believe they both have a fee to totally transfer the registration only if the animal goes to a new owner.

I'm not sure about the AKC chip, but I know for sure that AVID does charge a fee for address changes. I think it is $6.50 if I'm remembering correctly. We just switched from HomeAgain to AVID at our clinic, so I've been through all the ins and outs of both chips lately.

HomeAgain doesn't charge for address changes IF you have already paid for the annual membership fee. If you haven't paid them the yearly fee, they charge you the $14.95 in order to change your address, and then they have your money for the whole year.

That's a good question. I was led to believe that the Homeagain was the most widespread chip in use and the one most readers could read.

There are more HomeAgain chips in the U.S. than AVID, but A LOT of clinics and shelters are in the process of switching to AVID since HomeAgain wants everyone to pay yearly for their service. When I was talking to the AVID rep, she was saying that they've had an unbelievable amount of calls after HomeAgain made their announcement, and most of those places have switched over - so in time, AVID will probably be the most commonly used chip.

Both scanners we have from HomeAgain and AVID read both chips. However, if the HomeAgain scanner picks up an AVID chip, it will only alert you that there is a chip there, but will not show the actual microchip number. The AVID scanner works MUCH better, and will pick up HomeAgain chips, as well as giving you the microchip number.

From my experience with the two chips in practice, if I had to microchip my animals all over again, I would definitely choose AVID over HomeAgain.

 

[DreamDoby]

Since I do have HomeAgain I called the customer support. Their site is doing maintence and I can't get into my accounts. I asked a few questions about the their upgrades curious.

They are still phase out their "legacy" plans. Those are the plans with the once payments like I have. They will still apply for the lifetime of the pet, so apparently you may still be able to get in with that plan for now. You do not have to upgrade to the "proactive" plan soon to be "basic" plan if you do not want to. The plan is still for the lifetime of the pet. They will be new microchips, but the old ones will still be readable.

The change of address is free. I can still get into my account and change my address as I have done online or call them with my legacy plan without upgrading free. The same applies to the proactive plan.

The charge of the 14.99 is annual for the proactive plan. Per pet after it is 9.99. You also recieve a card with photo the size of a driver license with pets photo and chip number, info for kenneling and travel, ect. It really is a proactive approach if you are willing to spend the money. They go above the call with posters and calling vets and shelters within a 25 mile radius and e-mailing patrons that request to be on a mailing list for lost pets. It really depends on if you want to spend the money or not. For the full list of benefits of it here is the page. http://www.homeagain.com/2_0.html

I am not advocating them, it is your choice what to use. Just passing on information.

 

[Burns]

The change of address is free. I can still get into my account and change my address as I have done online or call them with my legacy plan without upgrading free. The same applies to the proactive plan.

Hmm, the HomeAgain rep told me something different. She said that if you are not paying the annual fee, you will need to pay the $14.99 in order to change your address, and then you will have all the features of the annual membership for that year. You cannot change your address for free if you did not pay the annual fee. This is straight from HomeAgain's mouth when she came to our clinic to talk about the new "upgrades" a couple months ago.

The reason we changed from HomeAgain to AVID because these new "upgrades" that HomeAgain is advertising with their yearly charge, includes having access to your pet's vaccination records. Our doctors were not comfortable giving them access to our records because of client confidentiality issues. There is no reason a shelter needs access to vaccination history because this should not change the care that animal is given in the short time it takes for them to scan the animal, call the microchip company, and contact the owner.