Ask us about our $20 microchip service!
Microchips, when registered, will contain your contact information including address and phone number. This can greatly help animal control officers, vet clinics, or animal shelters return lost or stolen pets to their owners.
We provide microchipping for a $20 fee. No appointment is necessary during our business hours. We use 24PetWatch microchips and we will register them for you.
What Is a Pet Microchip?
A pet microchip isn’t a locater beacon, GPS device, tracking microchip or some kind of Big Brother-inspired secret surveillance gadget. Instead, it’s a tiny rice-sized, glass-enclosed microchip that’s embedded under your pet’s skin. When it’s scanned with a microchip scanner, it reveals a unique number that’s displayed on the scanner’s screen. That magic number can then be entered into the microchipping company’s or pet recovery service’s database, bringing up the pet owner’s contact information that’s on file.
Why Microchip a Dog or Cat?
You might be thinking, “My pet wears a collar with an ID tag, so she doesn’t need a microchip.” or “He never runs off and he always comes when called.”
Securing an ID tag on your pet’s collar is always a good idea. It’s a quick and easy way for someone to find your contact information and get a hold of you in case your dog or cat escapes your watchful eye. However, what if your dog’s ID tag falls off the collar or becomes worn or illegible? What if your cat’s collar gets caught on a branch and breaks away, leaving her collarless and ID-less? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a more permanent backup plan—like a pet microchip?
Likewise, teaching your dog or cat to come when called is always a good idea, too. If your dog runs into traffic or toward another danger, a “come” command could prevent her from getting injured or worse! But what if your pal catches a delicious scent and takes off sniffing? What if your dog escapes the unescapable backyard fence, or your cat dashes out the front door and flat refuses to come when called? Again, in cases like these, having a backup plan is a good idea.
The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that microchipping is no more painful than receiving a shot: “It is no more painful than a typical injection, although the needle is slightly larger than those used for injection,” the website states. “No surgery or anesthesia is required—a microchip can be implanted during a routine veterinary office visit.”
Plus, studies have shown that pets with a microchip have a much greater chance of being reunited with their owners. For example, researchers from The Ohio State University school of veterinary medicine found that in a nationwide sample of animal shelters, the return-to-owner rate for microchipped dogs was 2½ times higher than the return rate for all stray dogs! [ED: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association; July 15, 2009; Vol. 235, No. 2] I’d bet on those odds!
How Do Microchips Work?
Microchips for animals utilize something called radio frequency technology. Inside the rice-sized microchip is a tiny radio receiver and transponder. When the microchip reader triggers the microchip, it responds with a unique bit of data—the microchip number—that it sends back to the reader.
Animal shelters, veterinarians and other organizations that have the microchip reader scan stray or relinquished animals for a microchip. Once they get that chip number, they’re able to use it to search one of several databases, depending on where the pet parent registered the microchip. The databases store information like the pet parent’s name, telephone number, physical address, email address and pet’s name.
So, if a pet is picked up as a stray, and the shelter worker is able to scan the chip, obtain a chip number and successfully track down the pet parent’s contact information, the pet can then be reunited with their family! Remember, however, that the contact information needs to be kept up to date—so if you move or change your phone number, let the pet microchip registry know right away.
Where Are Dogs and Cats Microchipped?
In most cases, a veterinarian or animal shelter will implant the microchip under the skin between the dog’s or cat’s shoulder blades. They use this spot on the animal because the chip is less likely to migrate from there to another part of the body. Plus, it’s a universally accepted location, which makes it easier for shelter workers to find the chip with a microchip scanner.
The animal care specialist will use a 12- to 15-gauge hypodermic needle to inject the microchip. It doesn’t hurt the dog or cat—it’s no different than receiving a vaccination or other shot—though side effects like tenderness can occur.
Pet Microchip FAQs:
Here are some common questions and misconceptions about pet microchips.
Q: Will it hurt my pet when he gets the microchip implanted?
A: It won’t hurt any more than a routine vaccination – having a microchip implanted doesn’t even require anesthetic. The procedure is performed at your veterinarian’s office or local animal shelter and is simple and similar to administering a vaccine or a routine shot.
The microchip comes preloaded in a sterile applicator and is injected under the loose skin between the shoulder blades. The process takes only a few seconds, and your pet will not react any more than he would to a vaccination.
Q: Will a microchip tell me my pet’s location?
A: Pet microchips are not tracking devices and do not work like global positioning devices (GPS). They are radio-frequency identification (RFID) implants that provide permanent ID for your pet.
Because they use RFID technology, microchips do not require a power source like a GPS. When a microchip scanner is passed over the pet, the microchip gets enough power from the scanner to transmit the microchip’s ID number. Since there’s no battery and no moving parts, there’s nothing to keep charged, wear out, or replace. The microchip will last your pet’s lifetime.
Q: Why does my pet need a microchip when he already wears a collar with tags?
A: All pets should wear collar tags imprinted with their name and the phone number of their pet parent, but only a microchip provides permanent ID that cannot fall off, be removed, or become impossible to read.
Q: How much does it cost to microchip my pet?
A: We charge $20 per pet, which is a one–time fee and includes registration in the pet recovery database. Microchipping and registration are included with all adoptions.
*If your pet was adopted from another shelter or purchased from a breeder, your pet may already have a microchip. Consult your pet adoption paperwork, or have your pet scanned for a microchip at your next vet visit to reveal the unique microchip ID number and register it.
Q: Isn’t microchipping only for dogs?
A: Both cats and dogs need to be microchipped.
Cats often do not wear collars, and may not have any other form of ID. A recent study showed that less than 2% of cats without microchips were returned home. However, if a cat is microchipped, the return-to-owner rate is 20 times higher than if the cat was not microchipped.
Q: Can anyone with a scanner access my contact information from the chip?
A: Microchips carry only a unique identification number.
If your pet gets lost and is taken to a vet clinic or animal shelter, your pet will be scanned for a microchip to reveal his unique ID number. That number will be called into the pet recovery service, and you will be contacted using the contact information on file with your pet’s microchip.
**It is vital to keep your contact information up to date so that you can be reached.
Q: How many times do I need to microchip my pet?
A: A microchip will normally last the lifetime of your pet because it is composed of biocompatible materials that will not degenerate over time.
Since microchips require no power source and have no moving parts, there’s nothing that can wear out and need to be replaced. Pet parents can also check to make sure their pet’s microchip is still working by asking a vet to scan it during their pet’s next checkup.
Q: My pet has a microchip. Is that all I need to protect him if he gets lost?
A: A microchip is only the first step! You must register your pet’s microchip to give your pet the best protection.
Register your pet’s microchip in a national pet recovery database such as HomeAgain or 24PetWatch with your contact information, so you can be contacted when your lost pet is found. Also, remember to keep your contact information up to date whenever you move or change phone numbers.
Microchips, when registered, will contain your contact information including address and phone number. This can greatly help animal control officers, vet clinics, or animal shelters return lost or stolen pets to their owners.
We provide microchipping for a $20 fee. No appointment is necessary during our business hours. We use 24PetWatch microchips and we will register them for you.
What Is a Pet Microchip?
A pet microchip isn’t a locater beacon, GPS device, tracking microchip or some kind of Big Brother-inspired secret surveillance gadget. Instead, it’s a tiny rice-sized, glass-enclosed microchip that’s embedded under your pet’s skin. When it’s scanned with a microchip scanner, it reveals a unique number that’s displayed on the scanner’s screen. That magic number can then be entered into the microchipping company’s or pet recovery service’s database, bringing up the pet owner’s contact information that’s on file.
Why Microchip a Dog or Cat?
You might be thinking, “My pet wears a collar with an ID tag, so she doesn’t need a microchip.” or “He never runs off and he always comes when called.”
Securing an ID tag on your pet’s collar is always a good idea. It’s a quick and easy way for someone to find your contact information and get a hold of you in case your dog or cat escapes your watchful eye. However, what if your dog’s ID tag falls off the collar or becomes worn or illegible? What if your cat’s collar gets caught on a branch and breaks away, leaving her collarless and ID-less? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a more permanent backup plan—like a pet microchip?
Likewise, teaching your dog or cat to come when called is always a good idea, too. If your dog runs into traffic or toward another danger, a “come” command could prevent her from getting injured or worse! But what if your pal catches a delicious scent and takes off sniffing? What if your dog escapes the unescapable backyard fence, or your cat dashes out the front door and flat refuses to come when called? Again, in cases like these, having a backup plan is a good idea.
The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that microchipping is no more painful than receiving a shot: “It is no more painful than a typical injection, although the needle is slightly larger than those used for injection,” the website states. “No surgery or anesthesia is required—a microchip can be implanted during a routine veterinary office visit.”
Plus, studies have shown that pets with a microchip have a much greater chance of being reunited with their owners. For example, researchers from The Ohio State University school of veterinary medicine found that in a nationwide sample of animal shelters, the return-to-owner rate for microchipped dogs was 2½ times higher than the return rate for all stray dogs! [ED: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association; July 15, 2009; Vol. 235, No. 2] I’d bet on those odds!
How Do Microchips Work?
Microchips for animals utilize something called radio frequency technology. Inside the rice-sized microchip is a tiny radio receiver and transponder. When the microchip reader triggers the microchip, it responds with a unique bit of data—the microchip number—that it sends back to the reader.
Animal shelters, veterinarians and other organizations that have the microchip reader scan stray or relinquished animals for a microchip. Once they get that chip number, they’re able to use it to search one of several databases, depending on where the pet parent registered the microchip. The databases store information like the pet parent’s name, telephone number, physical address, email address and pet’s name.
So, if a pet is picked up as a stray, and the shelter worker is able to scan the chip, obtain a chip number and successfully track down the pet parent’s contact information, the pet can then be reunited with their family! Remember, however, that the contact information needs to be kept up to date—so if you move or change your phone number, let the pet microchip registry know right away.
Where Are Dogs and Cats Microchipped?
In most cases, a veterinarian or animal shelter will implant the microchip under the skin between the dog’s or cat’s shoulder blades. They use this spot on the animal because the chip is less likely to migrate from there to another part of the body. Plus, it’s a universally accepted location, which makes it easier for shelter workers to find the chip with a microchip scanner.
The animal care specialist will use a 12- to 15-gauge hypodermic needle to inject the microchip. It doesn’t hurt the dog or cat—it’s no different than receiving a vaccination or other shot—though side effects like tenderness can occur.
Pet Microchip FAQs:
Here are some common questions and misconceptions about pet microchips.
Q: Will it hurt my pet when he gets the microchip implanted?
A: It won’t hurt any more than a routine vaccination – having a microchip implanted doesn’t even require anesthetic. The procedure is performed at your veterinarian’s office or local animal shelter and is simple and similar to administering a vaccine or a routine shot.
The microchip comes preloaded in a sterile applicator and is injected under the loose skin between the shoulder blades. The process takes only a few seconds, and your pet will not react any more than he would to a vaccination.
Q: Will a microchip tell me my pet’s location?
A: Pet microchips are not tracking devices and do not work like global positioning devices (GPS). They are radio-frequency identification (RFID) implants that provide permanent ID for your pet.
Because they use RFID technology, microchips do not require a power source like a GPS. When a microchip scanner is passed over the pet, the microchip gets enough power from the scanner to transmit the microchip’s ID number. Since there’s no battery and no moving parts, there’s nothing to keep charged, wear out, or replace. The microchip will last your pet’s lifetime.
Q: Why does my pet need a microchip when he already wears a collar with tags?
A: All pets should wear collar tags imprinted with their name and the phone number of their pet parent, but only a microchip provides permanent ID that cannot fall off, be removed, or become impossible to read.
Q: How much does it cost to microchip my pet?
A: We charge $20 per pet, which is a one–time fee and includes registration in the pet recovery database. Microchipping and registration are included with all adoptions.
*If your pet was adopted from another shelter or purchased from a breeder, your pet may already have a microchip. Consult your pet adoption paperwork, or have your pet scanned for a microchip at your next vet visit to reveal the unique microchip ID number and register it.
Q: Isn’t microchipping only for dogs?
A: Both cats and dogs need to be microchipped.
Cats often do not wear collars, and may not have any other form of ID. A recent study showed that less than 2% of cats without microchips were returned home. However, if a cat is microchipped, the return-to-owner rate is 20 times higher than if the cat was not microchipped.
Q: Can anyone with a scanner access my contact information from the chip?
A: Microchips carry only a unique identification number.
If your pet gets lost and is taken to a vet clinic or animal shelter, your pet will be scanned for a microchip to reveal his unique ID number. That number will be called into the pet recovery service, and you will be contacted using the contact information on file with your pet’s microchip.
**It is vital to keep your contact information up to date so that you can be reached.
Q: How many times do I need to microchip my pet?
A: A microchip will normally last the lifetime of your pet because it is composed of biocompatible materials that will not degenerate over time.
Since microchips require no power source and have no moving parts, there’s nothing that can wear out and need to be replaced. Pet parents can also check to make sure their pet’s microchip is still working by asking a vet to scan it during their pet’s next checkup.
Q: My pet has a microchip. Is that all I need to protect him if he gets lost?
A: A microchip is only the first step! You must register your pet’s microchip to give your pet the best protection.
Register your pet’s microchip in a national pet recovery database such as HomeAgain or 24PetWatch with your contact information, so you can be contacted when your lost pet is found. Also, remember to keep your contact information up to date whenever you move or change phone numbers.