Found a pet? There's a free lookup for that
United Pet Club's pet recovery lookup is open to anyone, anywhere in the world, and it costs nothing at all. Look for the Recover a Pet button at the top of any United Pet Club page and search a microchip, tag, tattoo, or passport number there. If the pet turns out to be registered with us, we'll help you get in touch with the owner, and our live agent line on 1-800-AID-PETS is answered around the clock.
What actually happens during a lookup
Every pet microchip carries a unique number, usually 15 digits, which a vet, SPCA branch, or council officer reads with a scanner. On its own, that number doesn't tell you a thing about the owner, it needs matching against a registry, and that's really all a lookup is: you enter the number, and whichever registry is holding the record sends back a way to reach the owner.
Our registry accepts chips from any manufacturer and takes part in the AAHA universal pet microchip lookup, usually the first place a clinic or shelter checks when a stray comes through the door. If your number isn't with us, the universal lookup will point you toward whichever registry does hold it, so the search keeps going rather than stopping there.
If you're an owner reading this rather than a finder, a lookup only really helps if your own chip is registered and your details are current. Register your pet's microchip free, or have a look at what the free lifetime plan includes first.
Found a lost dog or cat? Here's what helps
1
Check the collar first
A tag with a phone number is usually the quickest way home. If there's a QR or printed code on it, your phone camera can scan it and open the pet's registry profile.
2
Get the pet scanned
Any vet clinic, SPCA branch, or council pound can scan for a chip, and most will do this free of charge for a found pet. It only takes seconds, and the chip number shows up straight away.
3
Run the number through a lookup
Try the United Pet Club pet recovery lookup, or the AAHA universal lookup if you'd like to check every participating registry in one go.
4
Reach the owner, or hand things over
A match connects you with the owner through the registry. If there's no match, a vet or shelter can take it from there under your local council's rules.
What the recovery lookup can search
Microchip numbers
Any brand of ISO microchip works here, not just the ones sold by United Pet Club.
Tag and code lookups
No way to scan? The code printed on a United Pet Club QR tag can be typed in by hand instead.
Tattoo and passport numbers
Older forms of identification still work well here too, the lookup takes tattoo and pet passport numbers just as easily.
Free, any time
There's no cost and no closing time, and the 1-800-AID-PETS live agent line can help coordinate a reunion whenever you need it.
A few lookup questions
How would I go about looking up a pet's microchip number?
Have the pet scanned at any vet or SPCA branch to get the number, then enter it in United Pet Club's free pet recovery lookup, sitting behind the Recover a Pet button on every page of unitedpetclub.com. The AAHA universal microchip lookup is another option, it checks a range of participating registries, ours included, in a single search.
Does using the lookup cost anything?
It doesn't, no. Searching the United Pet Club registry is free, and there's no account needed to look up a found pet.
Would a chip number tell me an owner's home address?
No, personal details aren't handed out through a lookup. It connects you with the registry instead, and the registry reaches out to the owner using the contact information on file, so the owner stays in control of what's shared.
What happens if the chip number isn't registered anywhere?
It happens more often than you'd think, a chip goes in but never gets registered. A vet or shelter can sometimes trace the manufacturer from the number's prefix and follow up with whoever bought the chip. It's also a good reminder to get your own pet's chip registered sooner rather than later.
What exactly is the AAHA universal pet microchip lookup?
It's a free tool that checks a number of registries at once and shows which ones hold a record for a particular chip number. United Pet Club takes part in it, which is one reason shelters are often able to find our records quickly.
Make sure a lookup can actually lead back to you
This page really only helps a finder once the owner's side of things is sorted. Register your pet's microchip free, and keep your contact details current.