Microchips – Register and Update

Most people these days know that one of the most important things you can do is make sure that your dog has a microchip so that if the animal gets separated from you someone can get him/her home where they belong.

What a lot of people don’t know is that not all scanners are universal.  Some shelters and vets use scanners that only search certain registries and some use the universal.  More and more are going to the universal but it probably wouldn’t hurt to register at more than one just to be safe.

The first place to go is the manufacturer of the particular microchip your pet has and register there.

In my instance, the Los Angeles shelter my dog came from inserted an Avid chip.  They also gave me the chip number and the application form to send in.  There is a one time $19.95 fee to register your dog for life.

I have also registered him with the Microchip Registration Center (http://microchipregistrationcenter.com).  There is a one time $19.95 fee to register your dog for life.

and the Found Animals Registry (http://www.foundanimals.org/pet-identification/pet-microchipping).  They will actually register your chip for free so this one is a must do.

You should also have three points of contact.  Yourself, a friend or family member and your vet.  That way, should someone find your dog while you are away there will be others they can contact to get in touch with you.

With stray holds being very short at many shelters this is imperative.

Lastly, keep the information and make sure to KEEP THE REGISTER UPDATED.  If you move or change your phone number it won’t do any good to have it registered if the information becomes outdated.