American Microchip Council Develops Umbrella Pet Recovery Database.

NEW ORLEANS -- The American Microchip Advisory Council for Animals (AMACA) announced today the development of a nationwide umbrella database to assist in tracking microchips found in lost or displaced companion animals, birds and horses.

Millions of American pets and their families were represented last week when AMACA members approved the development of a database network designed to help animal care organizations, veterinarians and disaster teams return lost pets to their families. AMACA is developing the network in response to requests at meetings held by the USDA APHIS Animal Care Division in six key cities this year. Groups such as the American Animal Hospital Association, the AVMA, HSUS, ASPCA, and the National Animal Control Association have requested that microchips in lost pets be more easily trackable to their owners.

Hurricane Katrina and other disasters have focused attention on the 'pets and people connection' in disaster planning. Senator Mary Landrieu of New Orleans supports the American Microchip Advisory Council and has encouraged AMACA's development of a streamlined database to aid in getting lost pets back to their families. In Landrieu's State, the success of reuniting microchipped pets and horses with displaced owners following Katrina has been highly praised.

The new database umbrella will operate 24 hours a day and coordinate with recovery networks already in operation. Information regarding the manufacturer of the microchip will be available, while protecting the security and privacy of the pet owner.

The Advisory Council will work with microchip companies and recovery networks participating under this umbrella to increase efforts to educate pet owners on the importance of keeping their information current.

In contrast to over 30 individual pet registries in Europe, there are currently only a few registries in America. "AMACA's umbrella database will unify and streamline pet recovery in the United States now and into the future," says Liz Rauls of PETtrac, one of the country's largest recovery networks.

AMACA is an electronic community dedicated to helping animal care professionals develop standards and solutions regarding microchip identification of companion animals.