Many pet owners have experienced the heartache of losing a pet. As with anything, it is important to be prepared so that, whether your cat slips out the door while you are bringing in groceries or your dog sprints through the electronic fence chasing a rabbit, there is the best chance of your pet being returned. Identification tags, even those that provide GPS coordinates or lead to an online database, are no help to your pet if they lose their collar. Here are some benefits to microchipping:

  • The most obvious benefit of a microchip is that it can be used to identify your pet, providing the animal’s name, the owner’s home address and phone number, as well as medical records and a vaccination history. Many veterinarians, shelters, and even animal control officers are starting to carry microchip scanners. Rather than being taken to a shelter and adopted out, or worse, your pet may be returned to you in a matter of hours. Your pet’s information can be updated easily online or with a quick phone call.

  • A microchip, unlike a removable identification tag, is a permanent way to identify you as the owner of your pet. In the case of stolen or found pets where the ownership is disputed, a microchip can help to quickly settle any doubts.

  • Certain countries require pets being brought in by travelers to be microchipped as a way to assure that the animals match their vaccination records. This includes cats, dogs, and even birds. If you are planning on traveling abroad with your pet, be sure to check if your destination requires a microchip.

  • Owners who microchip their dogs can often apply for a lifetime license as long as they are spayed/neutered. By filling out the appropriate form and paying a one time fee, your dog will not need a new license unless you move out of the covered area.

  • Many microchip companies offer extra features for an additional cost, such as lost pet alerts, travel assistance to return pets to their owners, 24 hour helplines, and insurance. There are also certain accessories, such as pet doors, that take advantage of your pet's microchip.

Pets that run away risk being hit by a vehicle, attacked by another animal, becoming sick, or ending up in a shelter.

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*Photo courtesy of Pampered Pet Care of Atlanta, LLC.

 

 

Nick has been working at Braxton's since 2009

and is currently in charge of the store's monthly

email newsletter, the Pet Gazette.