August 15th, is National Check Your Chip Day, the day that everyone with a pet is reminded to make sure their cat or dog’s microchip information is up-to-date! Or, if you pet doesn’t have a microchip and you’ve been considering getting one, maybe now is the time to finally have it done.
Just last week, The Dogington Post reported a Golden Retriever from Tennessee named Boozer that had been missing for 9 years was finally returned home when he ended up in a Colorado shelter and was scanned for a chip. Microchips really do bring lost pets back home!
Below, please find some tips around microchipping your pet. Brought to you by the national animal welfare organization, Found Animals.
Chipping Your Pet: 6 Important Steps Brought to you by Found Animals
Before microchipping your pet, have your pet scanned at a vet’s office or shelter to make sure your pet is not already chipped. Ask that the scan be done with a “universal scanner” (one that can read all three chip frequencies) so the chip isn’t missed.
If your pet is already chipped, search petmicrochiplookup.org to get contact info for the chip’s registry. Remember, no matter which company sold the chip, you can always register it for free at www.found.org.
If the scan reveals that your pet is not chipped, proceed with the microchip implantation and obtain a copy of the paperwork, which should include your pet’s unique microchip
MOST IMPORTANTLY, register your pet’s microchip number as soon as possible at www.found.org. Think of the chip number as a social security number for your pet – it must correlate with information in a database to be useful. If your pet is chipped but the chip is not registered to you, it is unlikely your pet will be traced back to you if lost.
Update your information in the chip registry every time you move or change your phone number. If your pet gets lost and the chip is registered to a number you had three moves ago, chances of reunification are slim.
Microchip contact information is only accessible after a pet has been scanned by a universal scanner and the number searched in a registry database. If a Good Samaritan finds your pet on the street, the first place he’ll look to find contact info is your pet’s collar. Always keep a collar on your pet with clearly readable ID bearing your current contact information.
About Found Animals:
Found Animals is a nonprofit dedicated to reversing the outcome for the three to four million animals euthanized each year in the United States. They work alongside the animal well-being community to achieve one goal: find the big ideas that advance the safety of animals in our homes, our shelters, and everywhere in between. The primary mission is the happiness and safety of animals. From absolutely free microchips and registration, to responsible adoption initiatives and low-cost spay and neuter, they are committed to delivering practical solutions that will ensure the health and safety of dogs and cats everywhere.
