A lot of pet parents have a microchip implanted in their pet, however, they do not fully understand the process. The following information is intended to clarify a few missed conceptions. First and most important, A microchip is NOT a tracking device, it does not function like an automobile lojack. A pet must be voluntarily taken to a facility that can scan and contact the companies linked to a national registry. Implanting a microchip should be done by a veterinary professional in order to assure proper and safe placement.
A microchip is a tiny individually numbered chip about the size of two grains of rice. This chip gets implanted under your pets skin between the shoulder blades, therefore, identifying your pet with the unique individual number on the chip. The number is put into a national registry and linked to your personal contact information. If you and your pet get separated for any reason most veterinary offices and county animal control offices have scanners which enable them to scan and read your pets microchip number. The office, or sometimes the microchip company, will then contact the owner using the contact information within the registry. It is very important for pet owners to update their contact information on the registry when there are changes. It is also important that all lost pets be taken to an office to be scanned. This way reuniting pets with owners is always assured. Last but not least there are several companies offering microchips, remember the registry is national so once your pets microchip is registered it will stay in the registry with or without an annual membership fee to your microchip company. Not all companies charge annual fees, those that do usually offer other services in exchange such as ; lost pet medical insurance, lost pet alerts, poison control calls at no charge and 24/7 emergency medical assistance. So do your homework and check out a few before you decide. Choose the one that’s right for you.