LAST year, an Edinburgh family received a call from an animal refuge informing them that their dog had been found by the local dog warden. The owners were traced because their dog, a Springer Spaniel named Rosie, had been microchipped.

Microchipping can reunite lost animals with their owners within a matter of hours, but Rosie's story has far darker connotations. At the time she went missing, she was one of three Springers living with her owners. The dogs had been out in the garden, but when called, only two appeared. Rosie was missing. Neighbours had noticed a parked car and although no-one had seen the dog being taken, posters, advertisements and a reward failed to find her.

Rosie had been missing for over a year when she was found a long way from home – Carlisle. The dog showed obvious signs of having been used for breeding and this could be why she had been taken.

Animals go missing for all sorts of reasons. Dogs and cats can become lost. They can be spooked by loud noises and sometimes bolt. Cats are inquisitive and the Scottish SPCA has dealt with quite a few that have travelled hundreds of miles in the backs of vans or, in one extreme case, a young tabby that ended up in Holland.

Cats are sometimes disliked by neighbours and we know of some animals that have been stolen and dumped a long way from home. Pets can be stolen and sometimes certain breeds are stolen to order.

The value of some breeds is high with some pups and kittens being sold for £1000. Multiply that by five, six or even ten per litter and it is easy to see why some of our much-loved pets can be viewed by the unscrupulous as a way of making a quick buck.

In all these instances, a tiny microchip could prove essential to reuniting animals with their owners.

A chip is the size of a grain of rice and is inserted under the loose skin at the back of the neck of a cat or dog using a hollow needle – in human
terms, it is similar to having an ear pierced.

And it is not just cats and dogs that can benefit from microchipping. A few weeks ago, the Evening News featured a racoon found in a garden. Rocky was eventually reunited with his owner, but was microchipped before he left our care. Tortoises and even parrots have benefited from being microchipped.

Surprisingly, many pet owners are willing to spend large amounts of money on "bling" accessories and miss out the two things that are of direct benefit to their animal – pet insurance and a microchip.

If you are in any doubt about the value of chipping your pet, remember Rosie. Without her chip, she would have been just another Carlisle stray and may never have gone home.

And not knowing what happened to your animal is every owner's worst nightmare.

Doreen Graham is a spokeswoman for the Scottish SPCA.