Benefits of Microchipping Your Dog

Did you know a lost dog with a microchip is 2.5 times more likely to be reunited with its family than a dog without a chip? If you adopted your beloved dog from a shelter, chances are it’s already microchipped. But what if your pet came to you through a different route? Do you know what the microchipping process entails? Do you understand all the reasons that chipping your family friend is important?

A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and your vet will implant it under your dog’s skin using a needle. The process won’t hurt your pet any more than a regular vaccine. The chip carries a number that is attached to your contact information (name, phone number and address) stored in a database kept by the chip’s manufacturer. Vets and animal shelters typically keep chip readers on hand to be able to scan found pets and determine their owners. Finally, the chip requires little upkeep on your part. It is built to last the duration of your dog’s lifetime, and your vet will check it during annual visits to be sure everything is working correctly.

In addition to a being a simple process to get a microchip, it provides many benefits to animal-loving families. From the safe and quick return of lost pets to added convenience around the house, microchips are becoming as standard for responsible pet owners as annual vaccines are.

Get Your Dog Back Quickly

The most important reason to get your pet microchipped is that if it gets lost, it will be much easier for a vet or local shelter to reach you and return your dog to you quickly. But be sure to keep your contact information up to date in the registry. If you move, or if other aspects of your information change, it will take longer for your pet to find its way back home!

If you got your pet from a shelter, the microchip will likely be registered with the shelter’s contact information. Your adoption papers will tell you how to re-register the chip with your personal contact information. There might be an associated fee.

Proof of Ownership

If your dog is stolen, or there is any other dispute over ownership, a microchip will prove the dog is yours. In a less nefarious situation, maybe there are many young puppies at your doggie day care that are related or look alike – a microchip will be an easy way for the sitters to return the right dog to you! No matter what the circumstance, a chip will demonstrate that you own your dog – even when the reality is that it is your dog that owns your heart!

Saves Lives

A microchip is more permanent than a name tag. It will not accidentally fall off or get lost if your dog gets into a situation and tears its collar. This can save your pet’s life. If you pet takes regular medication, a chip means that he or she will be returned to you faster, which in turn results in fewer skipped doses. If you live in a county or state that has strict euthanasia policies, a lost identification tag could lead to a lost life. But because it is permanent, a microchip reduces the chances of the accidental euthanasia of your beloved pet.

Frees Up Resources in Shelters

Animal shelters are a great service to the community and unfortunately, are almost always underfunded. Because the owner of a microchipped pet can be contacted quickly, your animal will not be in the shelter long, which will reduce the shelter’s financial strain of keeping it. Getting your dog back quickly will not only make your family happy but will free up resources for animals that don’t yet have forever homes.

Peace of Mind During Natural Disasters

Although its heartwarming to hear the stories about family pets making their ways back home after a tornado or flood, it is not a guarantee. Some stray animals are picked up and brought to other states for safety during a natural disaster. A microchipped pet is more likely to be returned to the family that really needs to be whole again after such a devastating experience.

Smart Pet Products

Some modern doggie dogs are programmable and will only open when the correct microchip is nearby. This makes a doggie door not only a convenient product for your household, giving your pet the freedom to come and go as it pleases, but also a much safer option for your entire family than a non-programmable door. Companies are also beginning to produce pet bowls with similar technology. If you have multiple animals in your house, this could mean the end of your dog eating out of the cat bowl or your puppy’s nutrient-rich chow getting gobbled up by your more mature canines!

International Travel

Do you vacation international on a regular basis? Do you and your family have plans to move to another country? Although the United States does not compel microchipping, some other countries require it before your pet can enter. Planning a vacation or a permanent move is stressful enough. But if you microchip your dog from the start, you will have one less thing to do before your trip!

These are some of the reasons that responsible pet owners are increasingly choosing to microchip their pets. It is a safe process, it does not hurt your dog, it lasts a lifetime, and all you need to do is be sure that your contact information is kept up do date. That is a minor time commitment compared to the hours it will save worrying about your family friend if it gets lost or stolen.