The benefits of microchipping your pet: why it matters and how it works
A microchip is the one form of pet ID that cannot fall off or be removed. Here is how the procedure works, what it costs, and why it still needs a tag as backup.
Microchipping
A microchip has no battery and no GPS
A microchip stores nothing more than a fixed ID number. That number is only useful once a scanner picks it up and someone checks it against the right database. On its own, the chip can't locate a pet or contact its owner.
Old contact details cause more failed reunions than broken chips
A vet clinic or pound scans a stray, gets a chip number, and finds either no registration or a phone number that changed years ago. That single gap causes far more failed reunions than a chip actually failing, which is rare.
Can a microchip track my pet if it goes missing?
No. It has no GPS or battery, so it can't be tracked. It only stores an ID number that a scanner can pick up at close range.
How do I check which database my pet's microchip is on?
The vet or shelter that implanted the chip will have a record, and the chip manufacturer can confirm it too. A universal microchip lookup service can also point you to the right database.
How pet microchip registration works: what actually happens after your pet is chipped
The chip only stores a number. Registration links it to your contact details, and it's the part owners most often skip or let go stale.