(forwarded from the Conure list on the Internet):
Listen Up - This is Major's Mission:
My name really doesn't matter, but it is Lindi Biggi, and I experienced
the agony of having someone steal my Leadbeater Cockatoo bird, called
Major. The fact that Major was an expensive cockatoo really doesn’t
matter either, as what happened to him has also happened to some much
less costly companion animals.  Pain is pain, regardless of perceived
monetary value. What mattered, was that tearing us apart, hurt every bit
as deeply as if a family member had been kidnapped.   I experienced six
weeks of pure agony and spent in excess of $6,000.00 getting my baby
back.  What matters, is that even though the thieves were caught, our
American legal system didn’t figure a serious enough crime had been
committed to warrant even one night in jail.  I have no reason to doubt
that "my" thieves are back on the road, stealing a truck in one State,
filling it with stolen pets and selling them in another State, perhaps
they are now in your town.  This is what these people, and many others,
do as an occupation.  My bird was one of many stolen in Oregon and,
thanks to the Internet, I found him in Kansas.  We, whom claim to love
our pets have done little or nothing to protect them from the pain they
must endure when separated from us, either by someone stealing them, or
just plain - getting lost.
Because of what happened to me and my bird, I have spent a lot of time,
money and energy encouraging everyone to microchip their pets.  I have
learned everything I could about microchips and wish I could truthfully
tell you that chipping your pet would insure that you won’t go through the
painful experience of being parted from them, but I cannot.  I can tell you
that the micro-chip is the best thing available and it could and should be
the total solution.  The equipment is superior and totally capable of doing
the job it was designed to do.  The flaw is the procedures, or lack
thereof, followed by we humans. Let me explain:
· The public has not been properly informed about the chip, thus not enough
people have participated in the program.  It’s much like telephones, having
a phone is only worthwhile if everyone else has one too.
· Most stores like mine (I own a pet store) buy and sell pets without
chips.  Most stores don’t have scanners, thus thieves steal your animal and
come to stores like mine to sell them.  Lost and stolen pets are also often
taken to different states and sold through the classified adds.
· Animal breeders have failed to participate in the chipping program, also
lack scanners, and maintain low visibility.  They are another prime
purchaser of lost or stolen pets.  Breeders are also prime targets for
thieves to steal from one and, sell to another.
· Having your loved pet chipped is one step, however, the chip
manufacturers register their chips to the chip buyer, which is normally a
vet, shelter or pet store.  These facilities, even with good intentions,
often do not have the ability to keep the records necessary to locate you.
Many a person is under the false impression that they will be tracked down,
should their pet be found.

 * SLMR 2.1a * Only one of us is in the correct time continuum.
--- Silver Xpress Mail System 5.4M3d.b2
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