URGENT MESSAGE FROM VIRBAC BACKHOME BIOTEC MICROCHIPS. (There is no mention of how big the batch of malfunctioning microchips is.)
This is a copy of the letter which Virbac has sent to a Facebook Group Member.
Virbac Animal Health supplies BackHome BioTec Microchips. Since the company’s creation over 40 years ago, it has been exclusively dedicated to animal health. Our mission: prevent animal diseases and heal suffering animals. To do so, the company has to validate and ensure the safety and efficacy of its products.
As a long – standing member of the Microchip Advisory Group (MAG) Virbac are committed to ensuring our microchips are of the highest quality and meet all industry standards.
Our records indicate that your dog was registered with a BackHome microchip on 03/02/2011 from a batch that may have a functionality issue.
Whilst we do not anticipate any issues with your pet’s microchip; as a precautionary measure we are advising you to contact your Vet to arrange to have the chip checked and an additional chip implanted would there be an issue. Please take this letter with you. Virbac will supply the additional chip free of charge and cover the costs of additional registration if required. Confirmation of a new registration would be sent to you direct from Petlog our reunification database partners. This offer will remain open to UK residents until the 31st October 2012.
If you are part of the Pet Passport Scheme we would recommend that you make an appointment to see your Vet before you next trip abroad, to reduce the risks of any potential issue at border control.
We apologies for any potential inconvenience caused, especially as we expect that the most of microchips will be unaffected. However, we feel it is important to take these steps in the best interests of your pet’s welfare.
End of message.
Check with your Vet which microchip you have and Virbac has an advice line 
01359 256032 or email enquiries@virbac.co.uk
01359 256032 or email enquiries@virbac.co.ukPress Release 24th August, 2012.
By DogLost PR Team
Dogs owners who had their dogs microchipped so that they could be returned to them if they got lost or stolen were dismayed this week when they learnt that a batch of 200,000 microchips could be faulty.
The BackHome chips, supplied by animal health company Virbac, were distributed to vets from 2010 right up to this month and were subsequently registered with Petlog.
So far the company has written to owners via the Petlog database asking them to contact their local vet and arrange for their animal to be scanned, and where necessary have the chip replaced free of charge.Said a spokesperson for DogLost, the country’s leading voluntary organisation dedicated to reuniting
dogs with their owners: “This is only dealing with part of the issue. Some people do not update their
information at Petlog and so these letters simply won’t reach them. Virbac have ignored our requests
to widen their publicity to the broader dog-owning community.”“Equally worrying is the number of dogs who have been lost or stolen, or who are in pounds, who no longer have a chip that can be scanned. This will prevent many, many dogs from being reunited with their owners. During the period these batches of microchips were used we had more than 18,000 dogs registered as missing, or found and taken to pounds. Some 6,000 have not yet been reunited.”As a result, DogLost has been inundated by distressed owners who fear that they may never see their beloved dogs again, because they may effectively no longer be chipped.
It is believed that the chips failed between 24 and 48 hours after being inserted, but that Virbac failed to realise there was an issue until February this year. Subsequent tests led them to issue the recall earlier this week.
So far the company has written to owners via the Petlog database asking them to contact their local vet and arrange for their animal to be scanned, and where necessary have the chip replaced free of charge.Said a spokesperson for DogLost, the country’s leading voluntary organisation dedicated to reuniting
dogs with their owners: “This is only dealing with part of the issue. Some people do not update their
information at Petlog and so these letters simply won’t reach them. Virbac have ignored our requests
to widen their publicity to the broader dog-owning community.”“Equally worrying is the number of dogs who have been lost or stolen, or who are in pounds, who no longer have a chip that can be scanned. This will prevent many, many dogs from being reunited with their owners. During the period these batches of microchips were used we had more than 18,000 dogs registered as missing, or found and taken to pounds. Some 6,000 have not yet been reunited.”As a result, DogLost has been inundated by distressed owners who fear that they may never see their beloved dogs again, because they may effectively no longer be chipped.
It is believed that the chips failed between 24 and 48 hours after being inserted, but that Virbac failed to realise there was an issue until February this year. Subsequent tests led them to issue the recall earlier this week.
The faulty chips are in the batches that start with 978 or 8260978. Any readers who think they have
pets who have been affected by this should call 01359 256032.
