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Millions of dogs and cats become lost each year. Tragically, sometimes only a few are reunited with their owners. Many lost pets end up in shelters where they are adopted out to new homes or even euthanized. It is important that your pet has identification at all times. Collars and tags are essential, but they can fall off or become damaged. Technology has made it possible to equip your pet with a microchip for permanent identification.

A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice. It consists of a tiny computer chip housed in a type of glass made to be compatible with living tissue. The microchip is implanted between the pet's shoulder blades under the skin with a needle and special syringe. The process is similar to getting a shot. Little to no pain is experienced - most pets do not even feel it being implanted. Once in place, the microchip can be detected immediately with a handheld device that uses radio waves to read the chip. This device scans the microchip, and then displays a unique alphanumeric code. Once the microchip is placed, the pet must be registered with the microchip company, usually for a one-time fee. Then, the pet can be traced back to the owner if found.

Things You Should Know

• Microchips are designed to last for the life of a pet. They do not need to be charged or replaced.
• A microchipped pet can be easily identified if found by a shelter or veterinary office using a handheld scanner.
• Through the identification number the pet can then be reuinited with its owner.