Microchips are a great identification tool for pets. This small chip ( about the size of a grain of rice) is implanted by injection just under the skin between the shoulder blades where it remains for future identification if the pet is ever lost. The unique number that is encoded on the chip can be read by a scanner when the pet is lost and enters a veterinary hospital or animal shelter. Dog owners register their information ( name, address, phone number etc.) to this chip so in the event that their pet is lost and scanned they can be reunited with the info on the chip This newer method is much more reliable then the tattoos used in the past that often times smeared or faded over time.
The problem arises when pets are implanted with microchips and the information registered to them is not kept current. There are many pets that come into the shelter with microchips that have outdated information and are never returned to owners because we cant get a hold of them or they have adopted the pet to someone else and that new information wasn't registered. Unfortunately technology is only as good as the people behind it.
If you have a pet with a microchip please keep the info registered current and if you have adopted a pet have it scanned by your veterinarian and record the number. All shelters have lists of companies to call that have chips registered. This way you can update the info and greatly increase the chance of your pet making it home quickly.
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