Microchipping very safe practice

Regarding the Tuesday letter about microchipping animals and the possibility of it causing cancer: My entire family has been involved in the raising and showing of purebred dogs for many years, finally graduating to horses. We have never had any problems associated with the microchipping of any of our animals.

There is a misconception that the microchips emmit RF that could harm the animals. The microchip remains inert until scanned. There is no battery or other power supply located inside the chip.

Compare this chip to the microchip that is contained in various products you purchase daily, such as DVDs and clothing. The chip remains inactive until it is scanned by an external source, usually magnetic or low-level RF from a hand-held scanner. The chip then resonates and provides the ID contained inside. I’m sure you have heard the alarms go off at a local store when someone passes by the scanners located at the exit doors. The principle has been around for decades and has proven to be so safe that some countries are allowing hospitals to use the same type of technology to prevent newborn baby abductions. The chip is many times smaller than a grain of rice and sits just below the surface of the skin.

Rick Bell

Oak Harbor