The Benefits of Microchipping your Pet
Through researching about microchipping, Pet Owners can become better informed and increase their chances of recovering a lost pet.
A Microchip is Your Pet’s Best Chance for Getting Home
Microchipping your pet is one of the best things you can do to improve your pet’s chances of making it home if he or she goes missing. Some pet owners think that having a collar with tags and contact information on their pet is just as effective, but that’s simply not the case. When a pet runs away from home, it is not uncommon for collars to also go missing as a frightened or scared pet runs through shrubbery or digs under a fence. With a microchip, pet owners don’t have to worry about this possibility because the chip itself is embedded underneath the surface of the skin.
How do I know if my pet is microchipped?
These days, many shelters and humane societies will microchip pets before placing them up for adoption. This chip contains a unique identification number, which is then linked to a pet owner’s contact information (name, address, phone number, e-mail, etc.).
Is it a good idea to microchip your dog?
Yes. In the event that a pet goes missing and is found by somebody else, a microchip scanner can be used to retrieve this information and contact the pet owner to retrieve their pet.
Most Vets, Shelters, and Pet Stores Offer Free Scanning
Pet owners should also be aware that most vets, shelters, and pet stores offer microchip scanning as a free service. These facilities are typically equipped with at least one microchip scanner that can obtain a pet’s microchip number (and thus, the owner’s contact information) by simply waving the scanner over the location of the chip on a pet’s body. With this in mind, should you ever find a missing pet, it’s never a bad idea to have him or her scanned for a microchip right away. You never know; you could help a pet be reunited with its owner.
Microchips Themselves Don’t Contain Your Personal Information
Some pet owners are initially hesitant to microchip a pet because they don’t want their contact information being “out there” for anyone who finds their missing pet to see. The good news, though, is that microchips themselves don’t actually contain your personal information. The chips themselves only contain the unique microchip number assigned to your pet. It is then up to an approved party, such as a veterinarian or shelter worker, to contact the microchip company with that unique number and obtain your contact information. In this sense, your personal information is quite secure.
Store your Pet’s microchip number safely on the PetCloud App.
Pet Owners Need to Register Their Microchips
If you adopted a pet who was already microchipped by the shelter or adoption agency before you brought him/her home, there’s a good chance you will need to register your pet’s microchip and update it with your contact information. When a shelter has a pet microchipped before adoption, the shelter’s contact information is typically what’s on file. When you adopt the pet, you should be given paperwork documenting your pet’s microchip number, along with contact information for the company with which the chip is associated.
How much does it cost to microchip your dog?
It varies from Vet to Vet. Contact them for a quote. Many vet offices and even shelters offer microchipping for as little as $20, and special low-cost clinics may offer the service for free on select days of the year.
Can I track my dog’s microchip?
No. Microchips Aren’t GPS Trackers. Perhaps the biggest misconception pet owners tend to have about microchipping is that these tiny computer chips function as GPS trackers. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. A microchip cannot be used to “track down” a missing pet; it can only be used to identify the pet and locate your contact information in the event that the pet is found. With this in mind, pet owners should take their responsibility to know where their pets are at all times very seriously.
What happens when a dog is microchipped?
Specifically, microchipping a pet refers to a procedure in which a tiny computer chip (about the size of a grain of rice) is embedded underneath a pet’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades.
Microchipping is a Quick and Easy Procedure. Some pet owners shy away from having their pets microchipped because they worry that the procedure will be painful for their pet, or that it will be too expensive. In reality, neither of these beliefs are true.
Furthermore, the procedure only takes a few seconds, and pets don’t feel any more pain or discomfort than they would with a typical vaccine. In fact, the procedure is often over before a pet even realizes what’s going on.
How do I update my contact Details on my Pet’s Microchip?
The easiest way to change your contact details is to head to http://www.petaddress.com.au using your pet’s microchip number. PetAddress will redirect you to the database that lists your pet’s microchip number so that you may contact them directly. Some registries provide Change of Address forms on their websites.
If you cannot find your pet’s registry by searching on petaddress please contact your vet or microchip implanter (if you are in NSW your local council may also be able to direct you) to find out which database your pet is listed in. Currently there are 6 private microchip registries and 2 state government registries:
PetCloud
Australasian Animal Registry
Central Animal Records
Petsafe
HomeSafeID
Global Micro
NSW Government registry – the NSW Companion Animal Registry
SA Government registry – Dogs and Cats Online (DACO)
Now that you have a better idea of what microchipping entails and doesn’t entail, you can make informed decisions about having your own pet microchipped (if it hasn’t been done already). And if your pet is chipped, now is a great time to double-check that the chip is registered and your contact information is up-to-date.
