Rescue Tail / TJ and the Importance of Microchipping 

One thing, for sure, is that our community loves animals. Here in Marathon, Lucinda is one of those compassionate animal lovers who winters in the Keys, and with a heart for animals, she feeds feral cats that come along her path, making sure that while she’s here, the homeless cats in Marathon that need her have a nice meal and fresh water.

Having done this for years, she is very familiar with each of the ferals in the different colonies. So, when a new tabby cat suddenly appeared at a feeding station, she was surprised at how clean the big cat appeared. He had a clean coat, bright eyes and no notch or tip in his ear.

Thinking he may just be someone’s outdoor cat, who managed to find the feeding station, she didn’t think much of it until he kept showing up evening after evening. She contacted our Marathon Campus and we decided if he was friendly and could be captured, that she would safely bring him in to scan him for a microchip and find out where he belonged.

After earning his trust, she was able to bring him to our shelter in hopes he had a family nearby missing him. We scanned him and he did indeed have a microchip! We contacted the company, provided the microchip number and received the owner’s name, address and phone number. We called the number, and then we were all surprised.

The cat was named TJ, and two years ago his family was in town visiting from the Tampa area when TJ went missing. Although they searched for him, their attempts to locate TJ were unsuccessful and eventually they had no choice but to return home. So to hear that TJ was finally found and safe, two long years later had everyone in tears! The next day they drove straight to our shelter and were reunited with their beloved missing cat.

A microchip is a very small implant, no larger than a grain of rice placed under the skin, generally between an animal’s shoulder blades. Each microchip contains a series of numbers and/or letters specific to that animal. The microchip is then registered with the company and the owner’s name, phone number, address, email and emergency contact can be accessed by any shelter or veterinarian should that animal go missing. Animal welfare organizations and professionals are equipped with special scanners that read microchips, and every animal that enters a shelter is scanned on intake. A microchip is the safest, most affordable, permanent means of identification for your pet. They can be quickly and painlessly implanted by a veterinarian. If your pet is missing a microchip we highly recommend discussing the benefits of microchipping with your veterinarian. Or, stay in touch with us on our website at fkspca.org and social media for upcoming low-cost clinics at our Key West and Marathon Campuses to get your pet microchipped.