If it seems repetitive to have National Chip Your Pet Month in May followed by National Microchipping Month in June, it might be for one reason: the message is so important it needs to be said twice.
No one wants to think about their pet getting lost and most people think it will never happen to them. Sadly, the unfortunate truth is that 1 in 3 pets will become lost in their lifetime. Since we’re being repetitive, we’re going to say that again: 1 in 3 pets will become lost in their lifetime. That is a scary statistic!
This can happen to any pet owner. Cats are curious and can escape through an open window or as you’re opening the front door. Dogs can wriggle out of a loose collar or run off chasing after something. These things happen, even to good pet owners. What doesn’t have to happen is you losing your pet forever.
According to the American Kennel Club, microchipped pets are up to 20 times more likely to be reunited with their owners. Yes, collars and tags are a good start for identifying your furball; however, they are not a perfect solution as they can break, fall off, or become impossible to read. Microchips are the safe, inexpensive, and permanent way to ID your little rascal.
How Do Microchips Work?
Microchips for animals are smaller than a grain of rice and use radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology. They are placed under your pet’s skin in a quick, non-surgical procedure – similar to administering a routine shot. Most pet owners report no side effects and often can’t even tell where the chip is. With no battery and or moving parts, you don’t have to worry about it breaking or losing power. In fact, once implanted, most chips will last your pet’s lifetime. They are generally inexpensive, too, often ranging between $40-50 with no monthly or yearly fees.
How Does This Help Find A Lost Pet?
If your four-legged friend is ever found and brought to a veterinary clinic, shelter, or rescue agency, one of the first tasks performed is to check for a microchip. The microchip simply transmits the pet’s ID number when scanned by a veterinarian or shelter worker and is then looked up in pet recovery databases. A study by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reported that 74% of dogs and 63.5% of cats with microchips that were turned into shelters were reunited with their owners.
It’s important to keep your information current so that you get the call if your pet should ever go missing. If you change addresses, simply contact the company that registered your microchip. If you’re just getting started, talk to your vet about getting registered. If you rescued a cat or dog who already has a microchip, ask your veterinarian to scan the microchip so you can update your contact info.
A missing pet is a stressful enough situation so it’s important to take action before the unexpected happens. Call your veterinary clinic today and make an appointment to get your pet microchipped. Future you will thank you and so will your pet. A chip could save their life.
Microchipping your pet just may be the best thing you do for them. Like May’s National Chip Your Pet Month and June’s National Microchipping Month, I’ll repeat the message again: microchipping your pet just may be the best thing you do for them.