Around 8 million animals end up in shelters every year. Of those 8 million animals only 15-20% of dogs get returned to their owner and less than 2% of cats. This number is why dogIDs believes all dogs should have information attached to them at all times. We encourage all animal parents to get their fur babies microchipped and to make them wear an ID tag! In this blog, we’ll discuss a couple common questions about microchipping and discuss the importance of what to do when you find an animal who has a microchip dog tag. Yes, there are microchip dog ID tags and we make them!
What To Do If You Find a Lost Pet
First, approach the animal in a gentle, calm manner. Do not yell, shout or chase after the dog. You’ll scare him or her and it will be unlikely that you are able to capture the lost animal. As dog lovers, we know you only mean the best and want to help.
Before you feed or give water, check the dog ID tag. The dog ID tag can give you crucial information, like if a dog has any medical conditions like megaesophagus or if they have any allergies. If there is nothing medical related stated on the dog ID tag you are okay to give the dog some water! Especially if he/she looks parched.
If on the dog ID tag it states that he/she is microchipped and has a long number on it, rejoice! Finding the dog’s home has gotten that much easier and you will now be able to help get the dog home faster. First, call the phone number- if there is one- that is on the dog ID tag. If no one answers then you’ll need to find the registry that the microchip is with.
Looking Up a Microchip Number
Microchip registration services are different and in order to pull up the dog’s information you have to find the registry of the microchip. Most people don’t know this and assume that if they take the dog to any shelter or vet’s office that they can pull up the dog’s information and then contact the owner of the dog, this is not the case! The shelter or vet also has to find the registry site. You can take this step into your own hands to help get the dog home faster!
So the second step if there is a microchip dog tag is to go to: American Animal Hospital Association and you will be able to type in the long number that is shown on the dog ID tag. This site is an internet based application that assists in the identification of the registry that the microchip is associated with; it takes out the step of having to take the dog to a shelter. This is not a microchip registration site, it’s just a site to help you find out where the dog’s microchip is registered. The registry can then pull up the dog’s information and contact the pet owner.
According to American Animal Hospital Association once the number is typed into the database a list of all the registries with microchip registration information available, along with the registries’ contact information, appears in chronological order with the registry with the most recent update appearing first. If the microchip has not been registered with any Free Pet Chip Registry, the result returned will default to the microchip’s manufacturer or distributor. While the tool will not return the pet owner information contained in the registries’ databases, it will identify which registries should be contacted when a lost pet is scanned and a microchip is found.
Your next step is now to call the registries to get the right contact information for the dog’s owner. The best way to go about this is to call the first company name listed and work your way down the list until you can get the contact information.
[Tweet "Did you know you must register with a National Pet Recovery database for your Microchip to work? "]
**Dog owners please note: You must register your microchip with a National Pet Recovery database such as HomeAgain or any listed on https://www.aaha.org/petmicrochiplookup. If you do not, the microchip is pointless and contains no information. You will need to keep that information updated so that way you can be found if your dog is lost!
If you can not care for the dog and call the registries yourself then it is best to call your local humane society, rescue shelter or vet to get their advice on what to do. There is nothing wrong with taking the dog to the shelter, but doing it yourself ensures that the dog gets home safely and quickly as opposed to sitting in a shelter.
It’s important to put the microchip registration number on your pet’s ID tag so that way people can contact you faster and that they know right away that the dog is microchipped. If they can not get a hold of you for some reason then their only other option is to try to find additional information associated with your pet’s microchip.
Microchip dog tags are an incredibly important part of keeping your pet safe and covering all of your bases. Check out our “I Am Microchipped” Bone ID Tags! If you are on the fence about microchipping here are a couple common frequently asked questions and answers for you! Making your dog or cat wear a pet ID is really important, but we do recognize that they can fall off or get faded and that is when microchipping comes in handy!
Q: What is microchipping?
A: Microchipping is when a little chip is inserted under an animal’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades. This chip stores information about the pet’s owner. A scanner can then be used to pull up that information.
Q: Do I need to register the microchip?
A: Yes, register it with a National Pet Recovery Database, and keep the information updated! If you do not register the microchip it is useless.
Q: Does my pet need to wear a dog ID if he/she is microchipped?
A: Absolutely! It is faster to be able to call the homeowner if the telephone number is displayed on the dog ID tag rather than trying to locate contact information and microchipping registries.
Q: How much does microchipping cost?
A: On average, $45 and it is just a one time fee
Q: How long does the microchip last?
A: Your pet’s entire life!
Q: Where should I take a dog that is lost to get scanned?
A: A rescue shelter or veterinarian's office
Want more information on pet ID tags and microchips? Check out these blogs.