Register your dog's microchip in five steps
A microchip only reunites you with your dog once it's registered. Here's exactly how to link your dog's chip number to your contact details, step by step, free for life with United Pet Club.
Five steps to register your dog's microchip
1
Step 1: Get your dog microchipped
If your dog isn't chipped yet, book a visit with your vet. The procedure takes seconds and needs no sedation. You'll leave with a slip showing the chip's ID number; keep it somewhere safe until registration is done.
2
Step 2: Pick a registration service
Some microchip brands run their own registry, but you're not stuck with that one option. Register a microchip with United Pet Club instead, and you get a registry that accepts any brand of chip and checks against the American Animal Hospital Association's universal lookup tool.
3
Step 3: Enter your dog's information
You'll need the microchip ID (usually 15 digits), your dog's name, breed, age, and a photo, plus your own name, address, phone number, and email. Double-check every field; a single wrong digit in the chip number breaks the whole link.
4
Step 4: Note any registration fees
United Pet Club's registration is free. If your dog also needs rabies vaccination or LGU registration under the Anti-Rabies Act, those fees are set separately by your barangay or city veterinary office.
5
Step 5: Keep your information updated
Update the registry the moment you move to a new address, change your phone number, or switch email addresses. A chip registered to an old address does about as much good as one that was never registered.
Why registration matters for dogs here
A microchip is a tiny implant, roughly the size of a grain of rice, tucked under your dog's skin between the shoulder blades. It carries a unique ID a scanner reads in seconds, but on its own, that number does nothing; it has to be linked to your contact details in a registry before it can lead anyone to you. Dogs slip out more often than owners expect, through a gate left open during a fiesta, spooked by firecrackers or a sudden downpour, or lost in the confusion of a move. A registered chip is what turns a scan at a shelter into a phone call home. A pet ID tag on the collar helps too, since it's the fastest way for a neighbor to reach you without a scanner, but tags fall off and chips don't.
There's a legal side as well. The Anti-Rabies Act (Republic Act No. 9482) requires dog owners nationwide to have their dogs vaccinated against rabies and registered with their local government unit, and a growing number of cities and barangays run microchipping drives on top of that. A United Pet Club registration doesn't replace your LGU's own records, but it adds a free, searchable contact record that works even if your dog ends up far from home. It also acts as informal proof of ownership: if a dog changes hands through a sale, a rescue, or a dispute, the registry shows who the dog is linked to and since when. Owners wanting extra tools beyond the basics, like SMS alerts or a live agent line, can compare our registration plans. And if your dog has no chip yet, you can still register your dog for free and add the chip number after the vet visit.
What you get from registering
Faster reunions
A registered chip shortens the time between a shelter scanning your dog and your phone ringing, sometimes from days down to hours.
Easier travel
Many countries require a registered microchip before a dog can enter. Registering ahead avoids delays, and a pet passport covers the paperwork side too.
A record that holds up
If ownership is ever questioned, in a rehoming, a custody dispute, or a boarding mix-up, the registry shows who the dog is linked to and since when.
Less pressure on shelters
Every dog reunited quickly frees up kennel space and staff time for strays that need more help.
Questions dog owners ask about microchip registration
What's the difference between microchipping and registering a dog's chip?
Microchipping is the physical implant, done once at the vet. Registering is the separate step of linking that chip's ID to your name and contact details in a database. A dog can be chipped and still unregistered, in which case the chip can't lead anyone back to you.
Is it okay to register my dog's chip in more than one database?
Yes. Registering in multiple databases can widen your coverage, since not every shelter checks every registry. Universal registries on the AAHA lookup, like United Pet Club, cut down on how much this matters.
I adopted a dog that already has a chip. How do I put it in my name?
Contact the registry currently listing the chip and request an ownership transfer, using your adoption paperwork as proof. You can also register the chip fresh with United Pet Club; a newer registration takes precedence over an outdated one.
Do I need to renew my dog's microchip registration every year?
It depends on the registry. Some require periodic renewal, others don't. With United Pet Club, registration stays free for your dog's whole life and never needs renewing.
What happens when a shelter scans my dog's chip?
The scanner shows the chip's ID number along with the registry that holds it. Staff then trace that number to your contact details and ring or email you straight away.
How do I register my dog's microchip in the Philippines?
It's free with United Pet Club: open an account, key in the chip's 15-digit number, then add your contact details. It works with any brand of chip a vet here implants, and the free lifetime plan never charges for updates. Keep in mind the Anti-Rabies Act (RA 9482) still requires your dog to be vaccinated against rabies and registered with your local government unit; United Pet Club adds a free, worldwide-searchable record on top of that, useful even outside your own barangay.
Register your dog today
Linking your dog's microchip to your contact details takes a few minutes. Do it now, before you need it. Questions? Contact us any time.