I know you didn't want a debate and I am not debating this. My opinion is to not have it removed.

The only time a vet would remove a microchip was if it had failed and of course as it is a legal requirement if taking your pet abroad and this is what you were doing they would remove it to send back to the manufacturers but would indeed replace with a new one.

I work in animal welfare and I see a lot of things that would turn you into a quivering wreck, so inflicting unwarrented pain to an animal in my opinion is no better than some of the terrible things humans do to our beloved animal friends everyday

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