Why microchip your pet

Lots of them get stolen too. The American Kennel Club AKC suggests that petnapping is a growing issue with more than 2 million dogs getting stolen each year. It reduces strain on shelters and other animal control entities while improving the lives of individual pets. As a veterinarian who has worked at an animal shelter for over ten years and has witnessed this sad scenario replay day after day, I have come to realize that the true tragedy is the fact it can easily be prevented with the use of microchips.

What are microchips? Microchips are implantable computer chips that encode a unique identification number to help reunite you with your lost pet. Unlike collars and ID tags, they can never break or fall-off. They work by receiving a radio signal from a scanner and transmitting the encoded chip identification number back to the scanner.

With the chip identification number in hand, the vital contact information is only a phone call away. Not surprisingly, my experience at the animal shelter has made me a strong proponent of microchips. Should your pet go missing you are far more likely to be reunited if he or she is microchipped. The benefits of microchipping in terms of identifying a lost animal and reuniting them with their owner far outweigh any minimal, momentary discomfort. This is the only way to effectively trace the origin of a cat or dog.

However, if your pet is not yet microchipped then we recommend that you make an appointment with your vet to have your pet microchipped even in those states where microchipping is not yet compulsory.

Only authorised microchip implanters are permitted to microchip pets. Vets and animal welfare organisations can microchip pets. Some local councils also organise microchipping days. What is a microchip? Enroll with AKC Reunite today. Compare Breeds Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side. Dog Name Finder Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration. Find out the best and worst foods for your dog and which to avoid. Additional Resources AKC. Clubs Offering: Training Classes.

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