Think of microchipping as an ID tag that your pet can’t lose. Losing a pet is something no pet owner wants to experience, but accidents do happen. One of the best ways to ensure you are reunited is by having your pet microchipped. That way, even if your pet slips out of his collar, you can be contacted if someone catches him.

A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted just under the pet’s skin (usually between the shoulder blades). Each chip has a unique number and that number is registered with the contact information you provide.

If your pet is found by someone but is not wearing his collar and tags, the finder can bring the pet to be checked for a microchip. Animal shelters and most veterinarians will have handheld microchip scanners that will display the unique number from the implanted chip.

Microchip registries keep the contact information for each unique microchip number. If you tell them the chip number of the pet you’ve found, they will call the number they have on file to let them know their pet has been found. A microchip is not a GPS device and cannot track your pet's location.

It is important to keep your contact information up to date with your microchip registry. Be sure to update this information if you move or change your email/phone number.

Losing your pet is one of the most upsetting and stressful experiences for any pet owner. Yet thousands of North Carolina pets are lost each year and never reunited with their families due to a lack of identification. Many end up in overcrowded animal shelters and face euthanasia. A microchip can change this.  Pets that have microchips have a far greater chance of being found by their owners.