Proper identification helps in quickly reuniting lost pets with their owners…
Whether scared away by loud noises like thunder and firecrackers, slipping out a door that was accidentally left open, or getting past an invisible fence, losing a pet can happen. Sadly, one in three pets will go missing from home during a lifetime. Without correct identification, 90% of missing pets never return home.
As a way to remind pet owners to have their pet microchipped and to keep the registration information up-to-date, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) created National Check the Chip Day, recognized every August 15th.
If your veterinary practice is administering the chip, does the practice offer registration as part of the service or are you responsible for registering the chip? Ask for your pet’s chip number and registry information for easy access to keep the information updated. Doylestown Veterinary Hospital & Holistic Pet Care offers chip identification.
A shelter or rescue may have a pet chipped prior to adoption. Adopters should understand if 1) the pet has received a chip and 2) who is registering the chip and owner information—the shelter or rescue, or adopter?
Keeping your chip registered and the contact information current are vital for a quick reunion! Have your veterinary practice scan for your dog’s microchip. With the number of the chip, you can use the links identify the registry the chip is connected to. From there, you’ll be able to update your contact information.
When a lost pet arrives at a veterinary clinic or animal shelter, it is scanned for a microchip. The microchip is linked to a registry with contact information. It’s important to understand that a microchip is permanent identification but not a GPS device to track a lost pet. If the registry information is up-to-date, the pet will be reunited with the family.
One study showed:
- Over 50% of microchipped dogs were returned; only 22% without a microchip were reunited
- Nearly 40% of microchipped cats were returned; less than 2% without a microchip were reunited
“It’s important for pet owners to keep their contact information updated. You never think your pet will be lost, but if it happens, you’ll want to be called as soon as your pet is found. We love happy reunions,” said Dr. Laura Weis of Doylestown Veterinary Hospital.
For more information on micro/nano chip registries, please visit:
First site to check when looking for a microchip: https://www.petlink.net/
If unsuccessful, you can continue to search: AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup: http://www.petmicrochiplookup.org/?iframe=true&width=940&height=715
If a search in AAHA’s US Pet Microchip Lookup has been unsuccessful, you can continue your search by contacting one of the following companies depending on the microchip format:
- If the microchip begins with 98101, please call Banfield at 1-877-567-8738
- If the microchip begins with 985 and has a 10-digit alphanumeric or 15 digit numeric code, please call HomeAgain at 1-888-466-3242
- If the microchip begins with 977 and has a 9-digit numeric or 15 digit numeric code, please call AVID at 1-800-336-2843 ext. 4
- If the microchip begins with 982 and had a 10-digit alphanumeric or 15 digit numeric code, please contact 24PetWatch at 1-866-597-2424
- If the microchip begins with 956 and has a 10-digit alphanumeric or 15 digit numeric code, please contact AKC-CAR at 1-800-252-7894
- If the microchip begins with 98102, please contact Datamars at 781-281-2197
For more information about microchipping your pet or to schedule an appointment at Doylestown Veterinary Hospital & Holistic Pet Care, call 215-345-6000.