A gentle guide to registering your dog's microchip
A microchip really only helps bring your dog home once it's registered. Here's a simple walk-through of how to link your dog's chip number to your contact details, free for life with United Pet Club.
Five fairly simple steps
1
Step 1: Have your dog chipped
If your dog hasn't been chipped yet, it's worth booking a visit with your vet. It only takes a moment and doesn't need any sedation. You'll come away with a slip showing the chip's ID number, best to keep that somewhere you won't lose it.
2
Step 2: Have a think about where to register
Some microchip brands run their own database, though you're by no means obliged to use it. Registering a microchip with United Pet Club instead means you're covered no matter the brand, and checked against the American Animal Hospital Association's universal lookup tool.
3
Step 3: Add in your dog's details
You'll need the microchip ID, usually fifteen digits, your dog's name, breed, age, and a photo, along with your own name, address, phone number, and email. It's worth taking a moment to check everything over before submitting, since one wrong digit in the chip number can break the whole link.
4
Step 4: See if there's a fee involved
Some registries do charge a fee, either once or year on year, while others don't charge at all. It's worth knowing what you're agreeing to beforehand, including whether the registration ever needs renewing.
5
Step 5: Keep everything up to date
Try to update the registry as soon as you move house, change your number, or switch email addresses. A chip registered to an old address doesn't tend to help much more than one that was never registered at all.
Why this matters for New Zealand dogs
A microchip is a small implant, about the size of a grain of rice, placed under your dog's skin between the shoulder blades, and it holds a unique ID that a scanner can read within seconds. On its own though, that number doesn't really do anything, it needs a registry linking it back to you before it becomes useful to anyone. Dogs seem to get loose more often than most owners expect, slipping their lead somewhere like a local reserve, bolting when fireworks go off, or wandering out through a gate left open on moving day. A registered chip is really what turns a scan at an SPCA branch into a phone call home. A pet ID tag on the collar helps too, being the quickest way for a neighbour to reach you without needing a scanner, though tags can come off in a way chips simply don't.
There's more to it than a lost dog, too. The National Dog Database has required microchipping of newly registered dogs since 2006, and most councils will still want your dog's annual registration sorted separately from the chip itself. A registered chip also tends to work well as informal proof of ownership, since if a dog changes hands, through a sale, a rescue, or some kind of dispute, the registry record can show who that dog has been linked to and for how long. If you'd like a bit more on top, things like SMS alerts or a live agent line, it's worth comparing our registration plans. And if your dog hasn't been chipped yet, you can still register for free now and add the chip number in later.
A few things registering brings you
A quicker way home
A registered chip tends to shorten the wait between an SPCA branch scanning your dog and your phone actually ringing, sometimes down to hours rather than days.
Fewer headaches travelling
Plenty of countries expect a registered microchip before letting a dog in. Sorting it ahead of time tends to avoid delays, and pairing it with a pet passport keeps the paperwork side tidy too.
A record worth having
Should ownership ever come into question, during a dispute, a rehoming, or some kind of mix-up at a boarding kennel, the registry can show who the dog's linked to and since when.
A little less pressure on shelters
Every dog that finds its way home quickly frees up space and staff time for the ones who need it more.
A few things dog owners tend to ask
What's actually the difference between chipping and registering a dog?
Chipping is the physical implant, something your vet does just the once. Registering is a separate step altogether, linking that chip's number to your name and contact details in a database. It's entirely possible for a dog to be chipped and still unregistered, in which case the chip won't lead anyone anywhere.
Can I put my dog's chip on more than one database?
You certainly can, and it may help, since not every shelter checks every registry. Being part of the AAHA lookup, which United Pet Club is, tends to take a good deal of the worry out of this.
I've adopted a dog that already has a chip. How do I get it into my name?
It's worth contacting whichever registry currently holds that chip and asking about an ownership transfer, with your adoption paperwork as proof. You could also register the chip fresh with United Pet Club, since a newer registration will generally take precedence over an older one.
Does the registration need renewing every year?
That depends on where you're registered. Some ask for periodic renewal, others don't. United Pet Club's registration stays free for your dog's whole life, with nothing to renew. Your council dog registration is a separate matter and usually is annual.
What happens exactly when an SPCA branch scans my dog?
The scanner will show the chip's ID number along with the registry it sits in. From there staff can look that number up, find your contact details, and get in touch by phone or email.
How do I go about registering my dog's microchip here?
It's free with United Pet Club, just create an account, enter the fifteen-digit chip number, and add your contact details. This sits alongside your council registration rather than replacing it, since the National Dog Database has required microchipping of newly registered dogs since 2006. From there, every future update is covered at no extra cost.
Worth doing sooner rather than later
Linking your dog's chip to your details only takes a few minutes, and it's much better done before you actually need it. Any questions, get in touch any time.