Why is it important for my pet to be microchipped?

A microchip is a small electronic device that is about the size of a grain of rice. It is inserted under the pet’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades. Each chip has a unique identification number that is linked to the pet’s owner in a national registry. Microchipping is very important as collars and identification tags can be removed or lost. A microchip provides permanent identification.

When a microchipped pet is found, a veterinarian’s office or animal shelter can scan the pet for a chip. The scanner will read the unique ID number, which is then checked against the national microchip registry to contact the owner.

A microchip is only as useful as the information that is registered to it. The microchip is automatically registered to the veterinarian’s office or animal shelter where it was implanted. It is very important for pet owners to register their pet’s microchip with their own information at the time of placement. Many microchip companies offer free to low-cost registration, but some may require additional fees.

It is a common misconception that microchips are tracked with GPS. The chip only provides identification when scanned. The placement is relatively painless but most veterinarians will recommend microchipping with the pet’s spay or neuter procedure.