More pets die each year as a result of being lost than from all serious diseases combined. Always make sure your pet is wearing a collar with ID tag, and most importantly that your pet has a microchip. This is the quickest way to get your animal returned. People’s first response to seeing a lost animal is to check the ID tag. If your dog or cat doesn’t have one, they may end up at an animal control agency or in a shelter.
If your pet is lost, a microchip is the best chance you have of bringing them home. Did you know that lost dogs are 2.5 times more likely to be returned to their owners from a shelter than those who are not microchipped? Even more amazing, the likelihood for cats is 21.4 times more.*
Getting your pet microchipped could mean the difference between life and death. In order for the microchip to reunite you with your pet, the information it contains must be up to date. If you move, change your phone number, or need to include different points of contact, be sure to update this on the online chip registry.
What exactly is a microchip?
This lifesaving device is about the size of a grain of rice. It’s implanted into the skin between your pet’s shoulder blades and is numbered and linked to your contact information. When an animal is found, the chip is scanned, which gives shelter staff a quick way to get in touch with you. Today’s microchips do not include any kind of GPS technology, so they do not track where an animal is geographically. To save your lost pet, it is vitally important that the chip information remain up to date.
Once my pet is microchipped, is there anything else I need to do?
Many people assume their pet’s microchipping is complete when the shelter/rescue initially registers it on adoption day. But, in order for the chip to be connected to your information, you need to follow up with the registry. When you adopt from the San Francisco SPCA, our adoptions staff registers your pet’s microchip with 24PetWatch.com. It is then the pet guardian’s responsibility to submit contact information either on the website or by calling (866) 597-2424.
What if I don’t know where my microchip is registered?
Start by checking your pet’s adoption records, which will include this information and the company with which it’s registered. If this is not available, you can visit the universal online registry American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) that tracks all of the microchip companies associated with microchip numbers. This allows you to locate the correct database where you can update information.
*Source: foundanimals.org/5-things-didnt-know-microchips/