Today, one of the most effective ways to find an animal if it is lost is by identifying it with the authorities. This identification, which is done by tattoo or electronic chip, multiplies the chances for an owner to find his four-legged friend. In France, the organization that manages identifications is called I-CAD. Discover how it works.
The I-CAD, or ICAD (Identification of Domestic Carnivores), is a company under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, created in 2012. This company is managed by the Société Centrale Canine (SCC) and the Syndicat des Vets d'Exercice Libérale (SNVEL). Its mission: to manage the National Identification File for Domestic Carnivores.
In addition to the function of identifying animals, the I-CAD also makes it possible to control the movements of domestic animals and to fight against trafficking, which is still too numerous, to monitor certain wild species, as well as dangerous dog breeds, or to manage health crises affecting animals, in case of serious illness, such as rabies, for example.
Since 1999, every dog owner has had to have their dog identified, even if even today, many people do not yet take the steps to have their four-legged companion identified. Identification is also mandatory for all cats born after 2012.
Technically, anyone with a chip reader can use the ICAD network. It is updated daily and is available free of charge. A simple scan of the chip allows you to obtain several pieces of information about the animal.
ICAD is mainly used by:
The refuges
The associations
The authorities
Veterinarians
The pet shops
The breeders
The headlands
The Departmental Directorate for Social Cohesion and Population Protection
Here are the different methods for contacting ICAD:
ICAD phone: 09 77 40 30 77
Email address: Contact form
ICAD website: https://www.i-cad.fr/
ICAD address: 114 Rue Gabriel Péri 112, 94246 L'Haÿ-les-Roses
Normally, if you buy an animal from a breeder or adopt it from a shelter or association, your new four-legged companion is already registered with ICAD. It is then up to you to update your dog's information in the ICAD file.
You must report an animal to ICAD as soon as the owner changes (dog, cat, ferret). The former owner of the animal must provide you with a certificate of transfer of your dog, cat or ferret, so that the change is fully recognized. Without this transfer certificate, it is possible for the former owner to contest the transaction. Don't take chances.
The seller must also provide: The LOF certificate for dogs or LOOF for cats A certificate of good health If necessary, a document describing the characteristics of the animal
Today, it is probably the most common method of identification for domestic animals. More reliable than tattooing, the chip, which is the size of a small grain of rice, is inserted into the left jugular gutter without anesthesia.
The identification number consists of the first 3 digits that represent the country. The next two numbers indicate the species of the animal (26 for dogs and cats). The last eight digits correspond to the unique number chosen by the chip manufacturer.
Microchip identification of a cat or dog generally costs between 60 and 80 euros.
Tattooing is becoming less and less practiced, because over time, it is unfortunately possible that the numbers will become less legible, which greatly complicates the identification of the animal. A tattoo for cats or dogs is usually found on the thigh or in the ear. It consists of two numbers, then three letters, then three numbers.
Once the identification number is known, it is registered with ICAD. The identification number is then pasted onto an ICAD card, which you must keep even if normally, your information is already present, no matter what, in the database.
Losing your pet is always a difficult experience. Here's how to increase the chances of finding it as soon as possible.
First, report the disappearance of the animal as soon as possible to ICAD, on the Internet, by telephone or by post. Then, also contact the town hall of your municipality, as well as the various impoundments and associations.
Do not hesitate to call on the Pet Alert network, the largest mutual aid network to find lost animals. Publishing an ad on the Pet Alert pages increases the chances of finding your dog or cat more quickly.
For your part, get organized as well. Put up posters in your neighborhood and alert retailers. The more people who know that your pet is missing, the more likely you are to find it again.
Prepare clear signs: name of the animal, time and place of disappearance. Be sure to include a way to contact you.
Be careful, as some people don't hesitate to take advantage of the distress of owners of lost pets to extort money from them. If you are in a situation like this, don't give in to the pressure. No well-meaning person will ask for money to return an animal to its owner. Contact ICAD immediately, then the police, to file a complaint.
First, check that the animal does not have a visible identification mark, such as a collar with its name and owner's address. If this is not the case, it is imperative to know if it is identified by chip or by tattoo. The tattoo is visible: check for its presence in the ears or inside of the thigh.
For the flea, only a flea reader will allow you to know if the dog or cat is well identified. It is possible to buy them on the Internet, but few individuals have them. The best thing to do is to contact the town hall, the pound or the gendarmerie of your municipality. Only approach an animal if it is not aggressive.
If the animal is identified, you can report it directly on the ICAD website, at the following address: https://www.i-cad.fr/animal_trouve.
