Each year, countless pets are lost and never reunited with their families. Outfitting your pet with a collar and ID tag is essential, but the single most important step you can take is to microchip your pet.
Microchips dramatically increase the odds of getting your beloved pet home safely. Lost dogs are 2.5 times more likely to be returned from a shelter if they’re microchipped. For cats, the impact is even greater. They’re 21.4 times more likely to make it back home, according to a study conducted by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Getting your pet microchipped could mean the difference between life and death. For the microchip to successfully 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 your contact information on the online chip registry.
What is a microchip?
A microchip is a tiny, lifesaving device—about the size of a grain of rice—implanted just beneath the skin between your pet’s shoulder blades. Each chip has a unique identification number linked to your contact information.
When a lost pet is brought to a shelter or veterinary clinic, staff scan for a chip and quickly reach out to the registered guardian. It’s important to know that microchips are not GPS devices and cannot track your pet’s location. Microchips only work if your contact information in the registry is current.
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 connect to your information, you need to follow up with the registry.
When you adopt from the San Francisco SPCA, our adoption 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?
If you don’t know the registry, start with your adoption paperwork, which should list the microchip number and the company. If you can’t find that information, visit the American Animal Hospital Association’s Microchip Lookup Tool. This tool can tell you which registry to contact so you can make updates.
Microchipping is a quick and safe tool that can mean the difference between life and death for a lost pet. All animals adopted from the SF SPCA are microchipped prior to adoption to help pet guardians reunite with their pets in case of an emergency. By taking just a few minutes to keep your contact information current, you’re giving your pet the best possible chance of finding their way home.