Microchipping 101: Why You Should Get Your Pet Microchipped
Microchips are not only the most effective way to ID your pet, they can save your pet’s life.
Pets are so important to us. So much so, we consider them part of our families. Because our pets mean so much to us, we do everything we can to protect them. We let them sleep inside with us, give them routine vaccinations, and take proactive steps to keep them safe. Yet, in spite of our best efforts, sometimes they get lost. In fact, over 10 million cats and dogs go missing every year (American Humane Society, 2018). It can be scary, knowing that your beloved pet is lost and afraid, and you have no way of knowing where they are. And sadly, without some form of identification, only 15% of dogs and 2% of cats will ever be reunited with their owners (American Human Society, 2018).
While most cats and dogs have collars and tags, sometimes they break or slip off their necks. And without identification, how can we find our pets again once they’re lost? Fortunately, microchipping can help us reunite with our missing pets.
So what is microchipping? How does it work? And can it really save your pet’s life? These are all important questions to consider when determining whether or not you want to microchip your pet.
What Is Microchipping?
First off, what is microchipping? Microchipping is the process where your veterinarian inserts a small electronic chip under your dog or cat’s skin, which acts as a form of identification. The microchip is small, around the size of a grain of rice, and is encased in a glass cylinder. The chip transmits a radio wave, and when it’s scanned, it pulls up your pet’s ID and allows vets or shelter workers to contact you.
While microchips are one of the best ways to track your pet, there are quite a few misconceptions about what they are and how they work. First and foremost, we must dismiss the biggest myth around them: that microchips act like a GPS system for your pet.
Sadly, microchips are not tiny GPS systems for your cat or dog. There isn’t a phone app you can download that can track your pet’s whereabouts in real-time the way you can for a phone tracker or a food delivery app. Your pet’s microchip emits a radio wave, but it requires a special scanner in order to pull up your contact information. Veterinary offices and animal rescue groups typically have these scanners, so if your pet is ever lost and is brought in either to a vet or an animal shelter, they can determine this is your cat or dog and reunite you.
While it may not be the perfect solution for finding every lost pet, it’s still the best technology we have right now in order to bring them home.
How Does It Work?
Microchipping your pet isn’t nearly as complicated as it may seem. In fact, the process is pretty simple. Once you and your vet decide to give your cat or dog a microchip, they will schedule an appointment to insert it. As mentioned above, the microchip is inserted into the loose skin near your pet’s shoulder blade. Because of the small size of the microchip itself, this is a minimally invasive procedure, similar to getting your pet vaccinated. Once the chip is inserted, it cannot be pulled out without veterinary assistance. So, unlike a collar and tags, it won’t fall off if your pet crawls under a fence or another tight space.
Once the chip is implanted, it is important to register it. Without it, the chip is essentially useless. Here are some popular registries many pet owners use:
Why You Should Get It
On the surface, microchipping can seem like an unnecessary procedure for your pet. After all, most dogs wear collars (and some cats). Shouldn’t that be enough to ID your pet? While it can be if your dog just runs to a neighbor’s house or to the other side of the park, there are certain situations where microchipping your pet can literally save their life. In fact, some of the most compelling reasons to microchip your cat or dog are fully rooted in their safety. Here are some of the best reasons to microchip your pet:
In Case Your Pet Gets Lost
This is, perhaps, one of the most common reasons people choose to microchip their pets. It is widely accepted that cats and dogs need collars with ID tags and updated vaccination records. In many cities, it’s actually required by law. Even though collars and ID tags do an excellent job of identifying your pet, this isn’t always enough. Sadly, sometimes pets get lost, either because they got out and couldn’t find their way home or they were scared and bolted to safety, not knowing that doing so put them in more danger. If they are found and taken to an animal shelter, they scan any incoming animals to make sure they haven’t been separated from their owners. Without a microchip, or even a collar, they won’t know who your pet belongs to.
In Case Your Pet Is Stolen
As unpleasant as it is to consider, sometimes people steal pets. This often happens if you have a rare purebred dog or cat, although this isn’t always the case. They may either want your pet for themselves or might even try to sell them. While it is less likely you’ll reunite with your pet in this case, microchipping your pet is still your best chance of getting them back. If you report your pet missing to local authorities, they can be on the lookout for your pet. If your pet happens to be taken to the vet, they can scan for a microchip, which will determine that it is, in fact, your pet.
In Case Something Happens to You
As much as we hate to think about it, sometimes bad things happen to pet owners. They can end up in accidents or get sick. If something bad happens to you and you’re separated from your pet for whatever reason, you or your emergency contact can be reached to help authorities figure out what to do with your cat or dog.
In Case You Want to Travel With Your Pet
It is always a good idea to microchip your pet, especially if you plan on traveling with them. In fact, if you are traveling overseas with your pet, microchips may be required in order for your pet to enter the country. Even if you’re not taking your pet over the border, it’s still a good idea to microchip them in case they get separated from you. These types of scanners can be found at most veterinary clinics across the country, or even across the world, so making sure there’s an easy way for authorities to get in touch with you will always make things easier.
So is it worth it to microchip your pet? If you can foresee you and your pet in any of these potential situations, absolutely. Even if you don’t think you and your pet will ever be separated, the $45 dollar investment may still be worth it. While microchipping is not a perfect solution, implanting a microchip could someday save your pet’s life; and for many owners, their pet’s safety is worth every penny.
Sources: American Humane Society
American Kennel Club
American Veterinary Medical Association