One of the best steps you can take for the good of your cat’s health is to get them microchipped and have their details added to a relevant database, but an unusual initiative uses a very different kind of chip to help find lost pets.
Ever since it became legally required for cats to be microchipped, many new owners have ensured that their pet is registered with a database, which has allowed some cats who have travelled remarkably vast distances to be reunited with their owners.
However, The Argus reported a particularly odd approach to microchipping that combines it with an old seaside favourite.
In the past, fish and chips used to be wrapped in old newspapers, and whilst the practice has been banned out of fear that the ink from the paper could leak into the food, a chippy on Brighton’s seafront has revived the practice in the name of bringing cats and owners together.
The one-day event, known as the Microchip Shop and involving celebrities and influencers, gave free fish and chips to pet owners and informed them of the importance of microchipping pets and keeping their data as up to date as possible.
At the same time, locals were given pictures and information via The Missing Pet Gazette that allowed them to report sightings in real time using a QR code on the newspaper and used the kindness of strangers to help use a wealth of collective eyes to find pets.
As well as this, pet experts were on hand to talk about missing pets and what you should do if your cat suddenly goes missing.
Whilst the event only lasted a day, the novel approach to informing people about the importance of microchipping and bringing together a like-minded community will have a lasting effect on lost pets in Brighton, and it remains to be seen if it is replicated elsewhere.
