5 Reasons To Microchip Your Pet

Microchipping your pet might seem like a modern convenience, but it’s much more—a vital safeguard for your beloved animal’s safety and your peace of mind. Every year, millions of pets go missing, and the sad reality is that without identification, 90% of them never return home. Microchipping offers a permanent, fail-safe method of securing your pet’s identity and your contact information within a database that can be accessed nationwide. Here, we delve into five compelling reasons to microchip your pet, highlighting how this simple procedure ensures that if your pet ever gets lost, the chances of a joyful reunion are significantly increased. From enhancing the effectiveness of pet recovery efforts to simplifying travel and medical care, understanding these benefits can make all the difference in managing the well-being of your furry family members.

Has your furry friend been microchipped yet? If not, we strongly urge you to reach out to your vet and get that appointment on the books. Microchips may be small, but they really can make a big difference in your pet’s life. A Lasalle County, IL vet lists some reasons to microchip Fido and Fluffy in this article.

Invisible LIfeline

Microchips don’t eliminate the need for tags. ID tags are still the easiest way for people to match lost pets with their worried humans. They are also required by law. However, tags can be easily removed. Microchips, on the other hand, are permanent, so they form an invisible link that ties you and your four-legged friend together.

One-Time Procedure

Getting your furry best friend microchipped is very quick and easy, and there are many important reasons to microchip your pet. Your vet will inject the chip beneath your pet’s skin using a hypodermic needle. That’s it! This simple procedure provides a permanent form of identification, significantly increasing the chances of reuniting with your pet if they ever get lost. It’s often done along with spay/neuter surgery but can be scheduled separately. You’ll need to fill out your records, but physically, it’s a one-and-done process with long-term peace of mind.

Real-Time Updates

Microchips don’t transmit or contain your data. They only contain a single piece of information: a unique identification number, which can be read with special scanners. This number is linked to your account in the manufacturer’s database. You can—and should—update those records any time your personal information changes. (If you haven’t checked your furry pal’s information for a while, try the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup here.)

Perks

Technology is advancing rapidly these days, and there are many reasons to microchip your pet. While microchips don’t currently offer GPS tracking, they can still be incredibly useful. For instance, products like pet doors and food bowls can sync with your pet’s specific chip, ensuring only they have access. This adds an extra layer of convenience and security, making microchipping a smart choice for pet owners.

Helping Pets Come Home

Microchips definitely increase the chances of a lost pet being reunited with their worried humans … sometimes after being missing for years or being separated by hundreds—or even thousands—of miles. You may have seen some of the amazing stories about people being reunited with beloved furry friends that they had given up hope on. One recent example of this just happened last week, when Sophie, a pooch that had gone missing from Cincinnati, was reunited with her original owner, a truck driver from California.

Compelling Reasons to Microchip Your Pet in 2024: Safety, Success Rates, and More

Is microchipping mandatory in the United States?

Microchipping is not federally mandatory across the United States, but requirements vary by location. Some states, cities, or counties have specific regulations that make microchipping obligatory, particularly for pets adopted from shelters or purchased from breeders. However, it is highly recommended for all pet owners as a reliable way to permanently identify pets and increase the chances of reuniting lost animals with their owners. Microchips act as an invisible link to your pet, unlike tags which can be easily removed or lost, offering added security for pet recovery.

How does a microchip work technically?

A pet microchip contains a unique identification number that is activated when scanned by a specialized device. One of the key reasons to microchip your pet is that the chip itself does not transmit data or contain personal information, ensuring privacy and security. Instead, it holds this ID number, which is linked to the pet owner’s contact details in a secure manufacturer’s database. When a lost pet is found, shelters or veterinarians scan the chip to retrieve the number and access the database, allowing them to contact the owner. Regular updates to the owner’s information in the database ensure that the system functions effectively, providing peace of mind for pet owners.

What are the success rates of returning microchipped pets compared to non-microchipped pets?

Microchipped pets have significantly higher success rates of being reunited with their owners compared to non-microchipped pets. Studies show that microchipped dogs are returned to their owners 52.2% of the time, while non-microchipped dogs are reunited only 21.9% of the time. For cats, the difference is even more striking, with 38.5% of microchipped cats being returned, compared to just 1.8% of non-microchipped ones. Microchips provide a permanent, reliable form of identification, helping lost pets return home even when traditional collars or tags are missing or removed.

Can a microchip serve as proof of ownership in disputes?

Microchips can help in ownership disputes, but they are not definitive legal proof. The chip links a pet to its registered owner via a unique identification number stored in a database. However, microchips can only provide evidence of who registered the pet, not legal ownership. Courts often consider other factors like adoption records, veterinary records, and licensing in determining ownership. One of the key reasons to microchip your pet is that while microchips form a permanent and reliable link between pets and their registered guardians, they are primarily intended for identification and reuniting lost pets, which can be crucial in recovering your pet if they go missing.

What’s the difference between a microchip and a GPS device?

A microchip and a GPS device serve different purposes. A microchip is a permanent form of identification that contains a unique identification number linked to a database with the owner’s information. It does not provide real-time location tracking but helps reunite lost pets when scanned by a shelter or veterinarian. A GPS device, on the other hand, actively tracks a pet’s location, often in real-time, allowing owners to monitor their pet’s movements. While GPS provides location data, it lacks the permanence and identification benefits of a microchip.

Do you need to schedule microchipping? Contact us, your local Lasalle County, IL pet hospital, today!