It only takes a few seconds for your pet to be lost forever, like when you’re busy with other things and she slips out the front door to take off after a squirrel. The experience is so common that the American Humane Society estimates one in three pets will get lost at some point in her lifetime. That’s over 10 million pets every year who can’t find their way home. In many cases, it’s because the pet didn’t have proper identification. Even a collar with current contact information on it can catch on a fence or come off by the pet’s own force.
What is a Pet Microchip?
Even though June is National Microchip Month, people often have misconceptions about what a microchip is and what it can do. A microchip is about the same size as a grain of rice. When a veterinarian or someone from your local Animal Control scans your pet, the information contained on the microchip appears on a computer screen. This typically includes the pet’s name, your name, and your current contact information. This makes it possible to contact you to let you know that your pet has been located.
A microchip is not the same thing as a Global Positioning System (GPS). That means you can’t rely on it to let you know where your pet is if he gets away from you. It’s also essential to register your microchip and keep your contact information updated. There is nothing sadder than discovering a pet has a microchip and then not being able to reach the owner due to it containing invalid details.
Schedule Your Pet’s Microchip Appointment Today
The procedure to get a microchip is fast, inexpensive, and painless at Owen’s Ark Veterinary Clinic. One of our doctors inserts the tiny device in a flap of skin under your dog or cat’s shoulder blade. It’s over in seconds and your pet won’t feel any more discomfort than she does with a typical shot. Although a microchip isn’t an absolute guarantee you will be reunited with your lost pet, it increases the odds dramatically. It’s the least you can do for your best friend.