Microchipping

Microchipping is recommended as a form of permanent identification for all dogs and cats. A small microchip, about the size of a grain of rice, is injected under the skin between the shoulder blades. This procedure takes only a few seconds and requires no anesthetic. The microchip is embedded with a unique 15 digit number. Microchips can be scanned by anyone with a reader, including veterinary hospitals, animal shelters, and police stations. Our office uses ISO compliant HomeAgain microchips that are acceptable for international travel. HomeAgain microchips do not migrate and stay exactly where they are implanted for the life of your pet. 

When your pet receives a microchip at our office, you will be asked to complete a contact form. This form will provide information on how to contact you if your pet becomes lost. A scanned pet will only reveal a 15 digit number, no personal information is visible. A one time registration fee is included in the cost of the microchip and will keep your pets number registered for life. If at any point your contact information changes, you can contact HomeAgain to have it updated. Microchips are designed to last for a pet’s entire lifetime, however we recommend having your pets chip checked annually. This can be done free of charge anytime you are at our office.

Additionally, microchipping your dog makes them eligible for a lifetime license. Every dog over the age of 12 weeks is required by law to be licensed. A lifetime license if good for the entire life of the pet and does not need to be renewed annually.

If you find a lost pet you can have it scanned at our office free of charge anytime during normal business hours.  

A universal microchip lookup site is available at www.petmicrochiplookup.org. This site allows you to check your pet’s microchip number to be sure it is registered as well as provides contact information for the microchip company. If you find a pet with a microchip tag that does not contain the companies information, you can search this site as well.

If you need to update the contact information associated with your pet’s microchip please contact the microchip company directly.

HomeAgain
1-888-466-3242
www.homeagain.com

Avid
1-800-336-2843
www.avidid.com

24 Hour Pet Watch
1-866-597-2424
www.24petwatch.com