9 Top Reasons For Dog Microchip Registration
Reasons for dog microchip registration are exactly what we will be discussing in this article.
So read through and educated yourself on reasons for dog microchip registration.
Reasons for dog microchip registration
Just like a human with a driver’s license, there are many reasons for dog microchip registration.
With a registered dog in many cases, a lost or stolen dog can be returned quickly and easily.
The registration can also protect the family dog from injury or possible death if they are lost or stolen.
The dog doesn’t have to have tags to be registered. Some places do a scan of the dog that is a lot like a fingerprint.
The owner’s name and contact information are entered into the microchip.
This allows the authorities to identify an owner or a family member or a close family friend who can identify the lost dog.
Here are some common reasons why dog microchip registration is important:
- Identification: A microchip is a tiny electronic device that is implanted under the skin of your dog. It provides a unique identification number that can be read using a special scanner. This identification number can be used to trace the owner of a lost dog.
- Reunification: If your dog becomes lost, the unique identification number provided by the microchip can be used to trace its owner. This can facilitate the timely and safe return of lost dogs to their owners.
- Compliance with the law: In most states in the US, registration of dogs with microchips is mandatory. Owners who fail to comply with this requirement can face penalties.
- Reduced animal welfare issues: Sometimes, lost dogs can become strays or end up in animal shelters. Microchip registration helps to reduce animal welfare issues, such as overcrowding or euthanasia, by ensuring that lost or stray dogs are quickly identified and reunited with their owners.
- Proof of ownership: Microchip registration provides owners with proof of ownership of their dogs. This can be useful in cases where ownership of a dog is disputed.
- Safety of dogs: Microchip registration ensures that owners of dogs can be easily contacted if their pets are involved in accidents or emergencies.
- Cost-effective: Getting a dog registered with a microchip is relatively inexpensive and can save owners the cost of searching for their lost pets or adopting new ones.
- Prevents theft: Registration of dogs with microchips helps to prevent the theft of dogs. Microchips are not visible and cannot be removed or tampered with easily, making it difficult for thieves to steal dogs.
- Better animal welfare: Microchip registration for dogs supports better animal welfare by ensuring that owners are responsible for their pets and are held accountable for their care and safety.
Cost of a Dog Microchip
You must be at least 18 to purchase a microchip for your dog. The fee for getting a microchip for a dog on average is about $15 to $45.
As a registered dog, the owner receives an annual electronic microchip registration card.
The dog owner can use this information to add to or update the information on the microchip.
Learn more about how to find a lost dog.
Two Locations to Purchase a Microchip
There are two places to get a microchip: The United States Humane Society in your local area and the Humane Society in West Texas.
If you do not live in the United States, then you need to ask:
- Animal control department
- Dog breeders
- Other dog owners
- Online dog forums in your city
- Ask local shelters
- Ask local rescue groups.
There are many different brands of microchips and registration cards. Different microchip companies have different policies about what to do when a microchip is lost.
The microchip company’s recommended policy is to contact the owner to see if they are the registered owner.
If not, they would contact the microchip company, which would then contact the owner.
This policy allows the microchip company to know who the owner is when the owner calls the microchip company to make contact with them.
Most microchip companies will register a pet that has been lost within minutes of it being found.
The lost dog will be scanned, the registration card will be used and if they were registered the owner is contacted immediately.
Recommended article: Senior Citizens And Dogs: Things Seniors Should Know
How dog microchipping is being done
The microchip company will tell the owner to take the dog to their veterinarian to have the microchip implanted.
The veterinarian injects a small amount of liquid into the dog’s back between the shoulder blades. The dog wears a collar with a registration sticker.
After a few days, the microchip company will contact the owner by telephone or e-mail to let the owner know that their dog is now microchipped and an emergency contact is in the microchip company’s database.
The microchip company will pay to have the dog scanned again as a part of the registration process.
If the dog is found with a microchip, the microchip company will continue the registration process to make sure the registration information is current.
If the dog is found without a microchip, the animal cannot be registered unless the microchip company finds out who the owner is and they pass that information along to the owner.
Dogs who are adopted or taken in by a rescuer or an animal shelter should have a microchip implanted as part of the registration.
It is never necessary to remove an animal’s collar or tags after the dog has been registered.
Learn more about training a dog not to run away.
Procedures to follow if your Dog is lost
If your dog is lost or stolen, always follow the procedure from your microchip company.
Have your dog microchipped, and take your dog to the veterinarian. If your veterinarian doesn’t have a working ultrasound machine, you may want to use a microchip company that has one available.
If the veterinarian does use ultrasound and can’t find your microchip in the animal, get the microchip company to scan your dog at no charge.
If your microchip is not registered and your dog has no tags, the animal must be scanned again after it is placed into the shelter to make sure they have a microchip.
Returning a dog to its owner is never an easy task. You want the best outcome for your animal.
Microchipping may not be the most effective way to locate your dog, is only a way to identify your dog, but if you are the owner, and it is available to you, then please take advantage of it.
If you have a dog that goes out often you should consider using a good tracking system or device to always locate your pups.
Get a Microchip Today!
Read more about the 8 Strong Dogs That Will Defeat A Wolf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I get my dog microchipped?
Having your dog microchipped is important in case they ever get lost.
If they are found by someone else, a microchip can help reunite them with you much more quickly and easily than relying on collars or tags, which can fall off or be removed.
Is microchipping painful for my dog?
No, microchipping is a quick and painless procedure that is similar to getting a routine vaccine.
Your dog may feel a little pinch or sting, but it should not cause any significant discomfort.
While collars and tags are important, they can fall off or be removed.
A microchip provides a permanent form of identification that is always with your dog, even if its collar gets lost.
How do microchips work exactly?
Microchips are small electronic devices that are about the size of a grain of rice.
They are implanted under your dog’s skin with a needle and contain a unique identification number.
This number can be read with a special scanner to identify your dog and retrieve your contact information.
Are microchips expensive?
The cost of microchipping varies depending on where you live and where you go for the procedure.
However, it is usually a one-time cost and is often much cheaper than the cost of replacing a lost pet.
Learn more about the common ways to socialize your dog.
Can’t someone just remove the microchip to steal my dog?
Removing a microchip requires surgery, so it is unlikely that someone would go to that extent just to steal a dog.
Additionally, most shelters and veterinarians will scan for microchips as part of their intake process, so a stolen dog with a microchip is more likely to be reunited with their owner.
Learn more about why your dog keeps running away.
Conclusion
In conclusion, microchipping your dog is a simple and effective way to ensure their safety and your peace of mind.
With the ability to quickly identify lost or stolen dogs, microchipping is a must for any responsible pet owner.
Don’t wait until it’s too late, register your furry friend today!