After two years of worrying and searching, a Whittier family has been reunited with Foxy, their 5-year-old German shepherd mix.
Foxy was reunited with the Martinez family after the Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter scanned the rice-size microchip that is located in the back of her neck.
"The family, they were stunned, and they came down right away," said John Welsh, spokesman for the Riverside County Animal Services.
Once the shelter scanned Foxy’s microchip, workers were able to obtain the name of Foxy’s owner, a phone number, address and alternate contact name.
"We’re going to see this become a more common occurrence, where it doesn’t even make the news anymore," said Welsh, adding that many more dogs are now getting "chipped," compared to about five years ago.
Placing a microchip in a dog is a simple, inexpensive process, said Charles Miller, manager of animal care at the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority.
"Surgically, it’s no different than getting a vaccination. The needle size is a little larger," Miller said.
At the SEAACA, the microchip procedure costs about $25.
All animal shelters own devices to scan microchips, and many place microchips into animals as they are adopted, Miller said.
"We recommend it just as a secondary, precautionary measure," Miller said. "In no way, does it take away from our recommendation for going and looking for the pet."