All About Microchips
Let’s talk about microchips! There’s a lot of confusion and misinformation about these tiny, helpful, and often lifesaving, pet identification tools. We’ve gathered our most frequently asked questions about microchips, how they work and what pet owners need to do right now to ensure their pet is covered.
What is a microchip?
Microchips are an identification device that is inserted under the skin on the back of the animal’s neck. It is the size of a piece of rice and does not hurt the animal. When an animal is brought into a facility, the animal is scanned for a microchip, and the owner's contact information is automatically provided. It is the responsibility of the pet owner to keep their contact information up to date.
How do I check if my pet has a microchip already?
Shelters and veterinarians have scanners to check pets for microchips. Even if you know your pet was previously microchipped, we recommend asking your veterinarian to check for your pet’s microchip each year at your annual exam. While it is rare, microchips can reject or migrate, making them difficult to find with a scanner.
Where can I get a low-cost or free microchip for my pet?
BARCS’ monthly low-cost public vaccine and microchip clinic is held the first Saturday of every month. Vaccine prices range from $6-$10 and microchips are $10. Pet owners can also purchase and renew their annual Baltimore City Pet License(s) at our clinic. For information about BARCS’ clinic and more microchip resources in our community, visit https://www.barcs.org/resources-veterinary/.
Can microchips expire?
As mentioned above, rarely, microchips can become undetectable to scanners. If this is the case, you will need a new microchip placed. However, a microchip that is successfully scanning does not expire or have a time-limit in terms of database registration. However, the contact information registered to your microchip will become outdated if you move or get a new phone number.
I received alerts that I need to pay to renew and/or keep my pet’s microchip working. Is this true?
There are many different microchip brands. Each one has its own database and some require payment to keep your listing public. Regardless of the brand of microchip, EVERYONE can and should additionally register your pet’s microchip on the chips registry and with FoundAnimals.org (FREE LIFETIME REGISTRATION AND UPDATES). Please note that, even if you receive alerts from your microchip brand of an expiring registry, this has no bearing on the function of the microchip and whether your microchip will display your pet’s unique microchip number when scanned.
My pet has a microchip but I’ve misplaced the information to update it. What should I do?
If your pet was microchipped by a shelter or your veterinarian, call or email to ask for your pet’s unique microchip number. If they do not have this information in their database, visit your veterinarian and ask them to scan your pet for a microchip. Once you have the number, immediately register it on the chip’s registry and with FoundAnimals.org, which offers free lifetime registration and updates
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