I don't know if this is still the case, but I got a free AVID microchip scanner from the company maybe 10 years ago (still using the original battery!). They promote checking for microchips in incoming animals. It reads many (all?) other chips. All I had to do was fill out an application and provide a copy of my non-profit papers. The chips themselves are not terribly expensive if you order in bulk. I have, for many years, routinely microchipped ferrets being adopted out. It is the same size as a melatonin implant. Katharine Florida [Posted in FML 6580]