WHAT IS IT?
In the unfortunate event that your pet should go missing, a microchip can help reunite you and may even save their life. A microchip is about the size of grain of rice and it is implanted under the pet’s loose skin between its neck and shoulder blades. It is a simple and quick procedure. Each microchip has its own identification number that uniquely identifies your pet when read with a microchip scanner. Your pet’s microchip number is registered with a national database which keeps a record of your personal contact and emergency information.
WHEN A PET IS FOUND – CONNECTING TO THE OWNER THROUGH A MICROCHIP
Special scanners are used to find a microchip. It is important to use a UNIVERSAL scanner to make sure all the different kinds of chips can be found. Most veterinarians and all shelters will scan an animal for free to see if it has a microchip. When they find one, they can look up that number online to find the company that has the owners information. There are many different microchip companies that have a database of owners. But the good news is, just about all can be identified by putting the microchip number into a link online here: http://www.petmicrochiplookup.org/ The vet clinic or shelter will give you the company info to call or may call them for you. The microchip company will usually call the owner themselves and give them your contact info. They may give you the owners contact info. They may say the owner never registered the chip- and if they say that- ask f they can give you the organization that bought the chip. For example if they can tell you Pima Animal Care Center bought the chip- then by calling PACC they can determine who adopted that pet.
WHERE TO GET LOW COST MICRO-CHIPPING
No Kill Pima County Lost Pets Initiative, Monthly Low Cost Microchips: $10 including lifetime registration with Found Animal registry. SEE SCHEDULE AND LOCATIONS ON FACEBOOK or call us at 520-477-7401.
Petco Various (8) locations and weekend hours (at their vaccination clinics) $15. See locations here: https://www.vetcoclinics.com/services-and-clinics/clinic-locations-and-schedules/?zip=85748
The Humane Society of Southern Arizona 635 W. Roger Rd (520) 327-6088
$20, including registration with Home Again service. Available during vaccination clinics Wednesday and Saturday starting at 9am. No appointment necessary. Three locations:
Altered Tails Tucson, 225 E. Valencia (520) 495-5900
$25 including registration with Foundpets.org. Wednesdays 1-3
Santa Cruz Veterinary Clinic, 5408 S. 12th Ave (520) 889-9643
$25 including registration with 24 Hour Petwatch. Requires an appointment (but no exam or extra fee)
Pet Doctor, 6464 N. Oracle (520) 829-5166
$33 including registration with Home Again service. Open Monday thru Friday 8-12 and 2-6 and Saturday 8-12. No appointment necessary
Animal Birth Control (ABC) vaccination clinic, 3113 E. 1st St, (520) 881-7387
$35 including registration for life with AKC service. walk in: Tuesday thru Friday 10-4, Saturday 12 – 3
ABC Vaccination clinic, 375 W. Ajo (520) 714-7729
$35 including registration for life with AKC service. walk in: Tuesday thru Friday 10-4, Saturday 12 – 3
Animal Birth Control Clinic, 1114 S. Craycroft (520) 745-4564
$35 including registration for life with AKC service. Requires an appointment (but no exam or extra fee)
Ask your vet – Most clinics in Pima County, will ‘microchip’ your pet and charge between $20 and $80, including registration with a national database. Some clinics will require an exam at the same time for an additional fee.
IS MY ADOPTED DOG/CAT ALREADY CHIPPED?
If you ADOPTED your pet it was VERY LIKELY chipped by the shelter or rescue. Bring your pet to any clinic or shelter and have them scan your pet. If you have a microchip number but are not sure what company it is connected with, most chips can be looked up here: http://www.petmicrochiplookup.org/
SOME COMMON COMPANIES YOUR PET MAY BE REGISTERED WITH include:
• The Found Animals Microchip Registry https://microchipregistry.foundanimals.org/
Any brand of microchip may be registered here, free of charge. Add pets, and update your information for free online 24/7. Create a free account at https://microchipregistry.foundanimals.org/
• 24Petwatch http://www.24petwatch.com (866) 597-2424
Registration is $18.95 for cats and $21.95 for dogs per year or lifetime registration is $49.95 for cats and $59.95 for dogs. Change of ownership is $18.95.
• Home Again http://public.homeagain.com (888) 466-3242
Registration and membership is $17.99 per year, includes all account changes, support services when pet is lost and a national recovery network.
• AVID PETtrac https://www.avidid.com (800) 336-2843
Registration and membership is a $19.95 one-time fee for single pets and $50.00 for multiple pets. Account changes cost $6.00. Change in ownership costs $19.95.
• American Kennel Club http://www.akccar.org/microchips (800) 252-7894
Registration is $17.50 online, paper registration $19.95, includes all account changes. Transfer ownership is $19.95.
• Petlink.net http://www.petlink.net/us/cms.spring?path=prejoin.html (877) 738-5465
Registration is $19.99 online, by phone registration an additional $4.95, includes all account changes.
Change of ownership is $19.99
• RFID-USA http://www.rfid-usa.org (866) 211-9590
Registration is $19.95, account changes are $6.00, and change of ownership is $18.95
• Free Pet Chip Registry http://www.freepetchipregistry.com/index.php (888) 546-7615
Registration and account changes are free.