When the chips are down and your pet is missing, you’re probably in a panic. How on earth are you going to find your friend?

Social media, posters on the streets, calls to friends and neighbors, shelters, vets, and area animal control – all of these can really help. But if your pet isn't microchipped, it can take a lot longer to get your buddy back home.

It may seem surprising, but many pet parents don’t know about microchipping or haven’t been willing to take advantage of the procedure, figuring “nah, my pet will never get loose or be stolen. We’re too careful.”

The numbers tell the actual story: according to Rhode Island’s Providence Animal Rescue League:

• Roughly 70 percent of animals aren’t microchipped when they arrive at the shelter (another shelter's estimate is 80 percent or higher)

• 48 hours is the average time it takes for a microchipped pet to be picked up by a pet parent

• Some do not get home at all because pet parents didn’t keep chip information current, and the animal can’t be found through the vet that placed the chip

• Maybe 30 percent total of pets find their way home from the shelter

• Pets can get loose during any emergency, no matter how careful pet parents may be

Vet clinics, shelters, animal control facilities, and rescues strongly urge pet parents to have their friends microchipped. It's an easy, quick, low stress procedure. Animals as young as six weeks have had chips placed, but the procedure is most often done during a spay or neuter at 12 weeks or older. Pets may feel a slight pinch and flinch as the needle carrying the chip is inserted between their shoulder blades, but many don't react at all.

Can all types of pets receive microchips? 

• Most, even birds and certain reptiles

• Dogs and cats are most often chipped, but rabbits, ferrets, farm animals and other mammals also get this protective care

How is a microchip inserted?         

• The animal is first scanned to check for a chip

• A tiny chip (about the size of a grain of rice) is placed under the skin via a small needle

• A second scan makes sure the chip is active and present

• Most chips are placed during spay/neuter surgeries

• The chip ID number is then confirmed to match with its accompanying tags and labels

• Pet parents are instructed to register the chip online; until they register the chip themselves with the proper identifying and health information, the information will indicate that the chip placer is the pet's parent and contact person

Microchips can also give a pet's temperature, so no anal poke! Other information on chips can include:

• Health issues

• Medications

• General characteristics, entered by the owner when they register their pet online through the chip maker's portal 

Cost of microchipping can vary. Providence Animal Rescue League charges $50, but on some occasions has offered a reduced fee, especially if the animal has repeatedly gotten loose from its parents. Reduced fees may be offered by the ASPCA or during an event put on by a shelter or rescue. The ASPCA asks $20 to microchip a kitten.

TAKE ACTION! How can NAPPS members encourage clients to chip their animals? 

• At a meet and greet, make sure to ask about microchipping

• Offer printed information about the procedure

• Offer a discount off X number of visits with proof of chipping

• Contact your area shelters, rescues, clinics to find out about low-cost programs or events and offer this information to pet parents; tie in your discount offer 

• Offer a "diploma" or sticker with chipped pet photo, etc.

• Tell your clients about National Check The Chip Day! and encourage them to view the American Veterinary Association's video on their National Check the Chip Day page or on YouTube. You can copy the video link to show your clients.

• With support from the chip company "Home Again," the AVMA develops materials to promote the event - get these for your clients!

August 15, 2025 is National Check the Chip Day, created jointly by the AVMA and the American Animal Hospital Association to encourage pet parents to have their pets microchipped and to keep the registration information up to date. 

Once your clients learn how important a microchip is for their pets' wellbeing, they will appreciate the encouragement to annually update animals' chip information, or to have a microchip inserted.

                                               !

Holly Holmes, Owner

Pets at Home - Where They're Happiest!