Microchips Made Simple
Why Microchip?
Your pet is more likely to find its way back to you with a registered microchip.
When your pet is found, vet clinics and shelters can scan the animal for an ID number and report the pet as lost. The microchip company will contact you and you’ll be reunited with your lost pet!
The Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine conducted a study of 53 shelters who recorded information on animals entering a shelter with a microchip.
- 73% of pet owners with a microchip were found
- The median return to owner rates for the shelters were 2.4 times higher for dogs with a microchip than all stray dogs (52.2% vs. 21.9%) and 21.4 times higher for cats with a microchip than all stray cats (38.5% vs. 1.8%).
- The main reasons that owners weren’t found included incorrect or disconnected phone numbers, unregistered microchips, or owners failure to respond to phone calls or letters.
What is a Microchip?
A microchip is an electronic chip that is inserted beneath you pet’s skin. About the size of a grain of rice, the chip transmits an identification number unique to your pet when scanned. This ID number gives your pet the best chance of returning home if it’s lost. (Learn more: Lost Pets.)
It is inserted using a sterile, hypodermic needle and gives a quick pinch, similar to a routine vaccine injection. No surgery or anesthesia is required and the chip is injected between the pet’s shoulders.
Getting a Microchip is Affordable
HomeAgain Microchip: $42.75
Microchip Registration Fee: $22.50
Technician Appointment Fee: $19.80
TOTAL: $63.58
(applicable to City Way Animal Clinics April 2020 estimates, subject to change)
Adverse Reactions are Very Rare
The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) maintains a database of adverse reactions to microchips. Since the database was started in 1996, over 4 million animals have been microchipped and only 391 adverse reactions have been reported. (Source)
Not Sure if Your Pet has a Microchip?
Any of our clinics are happy to check for free! Odds are, if your pet came from a shelter, rescue, or breeder, they may already have one.
If your pet has received a microchip from one of our clinics, make sure your information is complete and up to date by going to HomeAgain’s website!
