The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals found that of the 1,015 households with pets surveyed, 15 percent had a lost dog or cat in the past five years. Of the 85 percent who recovered their lost pets, 15 percent were recovered due to their ID tag or microchip. Microchip identification allows for owners to know that if their furry friend becomes lost, they will likely safely return home to them.
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A microchip cannot get damaged or lost.
Unlike collars with name tags, microchips cannot break or get lost. A microchip is a permanent, tiny computer chip inserted by a veterinarian under your pet’s skin. The microchip carries a registration number with the owner’s name and contact information added to a pet registry service online. Thus, your information is available permanently and at any time. Please check out the Free Pet Chip Registry.
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Microchips last a lifetime.
Microchips are a good investment as they last for your pet’s entire life. Microchips are a permanent solution to always knowing your pet’s location. However, once implanted, be sure to have your veterinarian scan the implant each year to make sure it is working correctly.
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Microchips are continually being enhanced.
As technology continues to advance, so do the capabilities of the microchip. Some manufacturers are enhancing capabilities to allow the chip to open your dog door as the dog approaches. This helps prevent other critters from invading your home. Some also offer lost pet alert services.
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Microchips respect your privacy.
As concerns continue growing regarding data and privacy, microchips allow you to opt-in to their other services. At a minimum, you are only notified if your pet is lost or if someone scan’s your pet’s microchip. However, you can opt-in to newsletters or other advertisements.
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Microchips cannot replace other tags.
Microchips are great as a permanent identification method that is damage-proof. However, microchips cannot replace up-to-date identification tags and rabies tags. These surface-level tags are the first thing seen by those who find lost animals. It allows them to know the animal is safe to approach. Then, one can use the microchip capabilities to find the owner. REMEMBER: cats should wear only break-away collars. Our felines can get into tight places, and if their collar gets caught it could strangle them
There are many benefits to microchip identification. However, be sure to consult your veterinarian when making the decision to microchip your furry friend.