National Microchipping Month!

by Kamie Roth June 17, 2024

National Microchipping Month is a dedicated campaign that has the goal to raise awareness over the importance of microchipping our pets. Microchipping is a simple, safe, and effective method to ensure pets can be identified and reunited with their owners if they get lost!

Importance of Microchipping

• Microchipping is a quick and effortless way to provide a permanent form of identification that can help reunite lost pets with their owners.
• Unlike collars and tags, which can be removed, damaged, or lost, a microchip is a more reliable way to ensure a pet can be properly identified.
• Some microchips can store medical information or be linked to online databases where a pet’s health records are maintained, ensuring that any veterinary professionals can access critical health information in an emergency.

How Microchipping Works

• A small chip, about the size of a grain of rice, is implanted under the pet’s skin.
  • Dogs: The microchip is usually injected under the skin between the shoulder blades using a sterile syringe.
  • Horses: The microchip is typically implanted into the nuchal ligament on the left side of the neck. This location helps ensure the chip stays in place and reduces the likelihood of it migrating.

Registration: After implantation, the unique identification number is registered with a national or international database along with the owner’s contact information. It is crucial for owners to keep their contact information up to date in the database!

Verification: A scanner is used to read the microchip and verify that it has been properly implanted. The scanner emits a low-frequency radio signal that activates the chip, which then transmits its unique ID number back to the scanner.

Benefits of Microchipping

Rapid Recovery: When an animal is found, scanning for a microchip significantly speeds up the process of reuniting pets with their owners!

Proof of Ownership: Microchips serve as proof of ownership in disputes or theft cases, providing a verifiable link between the animal and the owner.

Health and Legal Records: Microchips can be linked to extensive health records and can meet legal requirements for animal identification in various jurisdictions.

Maintenance and Limitations

Updating Information: It is the owner’s responsibility to keep their contact information up to date in the microchip database to ensure they can be reached if their pet is found.

Compatibility: Most scanners are designed to read multiple types of microchips, but in rare cases, compatibility issues can arise. It is important to use a chip that conforms to ISO standards for universal readability.

Not a GPS Device: Microchips do not have GPS capabilities and cannot track an animal’s location. They are used solely for identification when the animal is found.

Events and Activities

• Check with your local veterinary clinics and animal shelters as they often offer discounts on microchipping services during this month!
• Educational events and campaigns are often organized to inform pet owners about the benefits of microchipping.
• Social media campaigns and local events help spread awareness and encourage more pet owners to microchip their pets. Share information with friends and family!

By promoting microchipping and its benefits, National Microchipping Month plays a crucial role in pet safety and the welfare of animals, helping reduce the number of lost pets that end up in shelters.

By Heather Carter

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