The nauseating realization moment of a beloved dog or cat’s disappearance is as terrifying for many pet owners as parents’ panic when a preschooler yanks his or her hand away at the mall, dashing into the crowd. Reconnecting pet to owner can be no less traumatic or important.
Too Many Pets Lost with Too Little ID
According to the Humane Society of the United States, over 20 million pets are euthanized each year because rescue shelters rescue many more lost and feral dogs and cats than they can connect with original owners or new homes. Shelters cannot kennel and feed them all indefinitely.
Collars and tags can fall off, but a microchip stays in place throughout the animal’s life. 24PetWatch™ is one of several different manufacturers and monitor companies offering permanent microchip pet identification options to pet owners. Animals with microchip identification implants are reunited much more often with their owners than pets wearing just collars and tags alone.
Getting Started with Pet Microchip Identification
Many local Human Society Chapters across America use and recommend microchip identification for pets. The chip is about the size of a grain of rice and is injected by using a sterile syringe into the shoulder area just under the scruff of the skin. It is often done at the time of adoption, or can easily be added to any of the annual vaccination visits.
This can be done at the Humane Society, shelter, or at a veterinary clinic and cost varies depending upon the facility, ranging from about $20 to $40. The fee includes the injection, the microchip, a plastic collar tag with the microchip ID number embedded on it, initial scanning to ensure microchip is activated, and registration with the microchip manufacturer.
If a Pet is Lost
The microchip manufacturers’ individual chip code number for each pet’s tag is recorded and stored at the clinic or shelter where the injection was done, as well as with the microchip manufacturers’ websites. The pet owner’s contact information is with the recorded information.
Newly captured and found animals at shelters, pounds, and Humane Society sites are scanned across the shoulder area with microchip scanners. When a microchip is detected, the pet’s information is checked against the recorded and stored information in the manufacturers’ systems, so the pet can be reunited with the owner.
Microchip Identification Details
Microchip identification manufacturers allow a pet owner to register pet information online and access customer service 24 hours a day. The company also offers various forms of pet health care insurance.
Shelters, vet clinics, and rescue sites should have scanners on-hand, capable of reading the microchip manufacturers’ identification codes, all across the United States. Scanning a pet for a microchip is a free service to anyone, whether that person is the owner of the pet or just found the pet and is trying to reconnect a family.
It is not common for microchips to deactivate. Microchips have an average activity span of 25 years. However, if the pet will be traveling or there is a family move coming up, having the microchip checked and updating contact information in the microchip manufacturers’ records is advised.
Pets with microchips are more likely to be identified and returned to their owners than pets only wearing collars and tags, or having no identification on them at all. Before getting a pet micro-chipped, check with the local shelter and veterinarian to make sure their scanners can read the microchip. Get the microchip brand injected that is the same brand as the scanners the local shelters and veterinarian have. Microchip manufacturers’ scanners only read the chip numbers of their own brand. Shelters and clinics do not have all scanner brands on hand.
Pet Microchip Identification Ratings and Contact Information
Value for the Price = 4/5
Product Quality = 5/5
Customer Service = 3/5
Notice: Scanners are not capable of universal identification of pet tag numbers – The Humane Society is encouraging manufacturers to develop scanners which read universally, but so far the manufacturers are not listening.
For more information on microchip recommendations for your area, contact the Humane Society, or any local animal shelter or veterinary clinic.
See more about the microchip manufacturer, 24PetWatch at, 24PetWatch Product Review, by Lynn Pritchett.
Other Pet Care Needs
Further pet health and care articles by Lynn Pritchett can be viewed at: Homemade Pet Diapers for Small Dogs and Cats and Homemade Pet Diapers for Medium to Large Dogs.
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