An American couple has a Curtin University physics technician to thank for saving the life of their beloved Brittany spaniel Layla after her microchip became unreadable.
Elizabeth and Franck Tellier immigrated to Perth from Houston, Texas with their two dogs, five-year old Layla, and a seven year-old American Eskimo, Mason, earlier this year.
On arriving the animals were scanned by the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service but the microchip – a RFID transponder – inserted into Layla, could not be read.
The couple was told Layla would have to go back to the US or be euthanised.
Under Australian quarantine laws any animal imported into the country has to stay in quarantine and be fitted with a microchip. The chip needs to match with import documents or the animal is deported or euthanised.
With her chip not able to be read Layla was booked on a flight out of Australia.
Desperate to save their pet the Telliers had Layla x-rayed to prove she had a microchip.
They then tried five different sorts of scanners in a bid to read the vital information off the chip but nothing would work.
With the help of their local vet the couple approached Curtin University and were sent to see prototype laboratory technician Mark Winstanley whose job involves supporting staff and students to build different types of equipment.
Winstanley soon established the microchip had become detached from its tiny radio antenna.
“I was able to detach the antenna on another ID chip and demonstrate under a microscope that it was possible to re-attach the antenna and successfully read the ID,” Winstanley said.
“After this test was successful, I went ahead and repeated the procedure on the damaged microchip recovered from the dog.
“This then allowed it to be scanned and the identification number read, matching the importation papers.”
The experiment and the final readings occurred in the presence of a vet from AQIS.
Once the tag had been read the couple were told by AQIS that Layla had met all quarantine requirements and could stay. They were able to collect her from the Byford Quarantine station late last month and she is now settling into Australia with her family.
Elizabeth Tellier said she was ecstatic Winstanley had been able to devise a solution to the issue of the faulty tag.
“After I met Mark and witnessed the test I had a lot of confidence this was going to work,” she said.
“The final scan was nerve-wracking but once we heard the scanner picked up the ID we were beside ourselves. To know there are people so willing to help is really a nice feeling.
“We are amazed at how fast we were set up with the correct people at Curtin University.”
Winstanley said he had been keen to assist the coupe and to save the dog.
“I gained inspiration and motivation from my loving wife, new baby boy Charles and my late dog Boston,” he said.
JANE HAMMOND