Ensuring the safety and well being of your pet goes beyond proper nutrition, regular exercise, and a safe environment. One responsibility of any pet owner is registering your pet. Registering pets has a number of clear benefits:
- Registered pets can be easily identified if they go missing.
- In cases of pet abduction, registering your pet is the only way to verify ownership.
- By registering your pet you are adding your pet to a database that includes photos, medical information, and owner contact information.
While there are different ways to register your pet, some pets may be marked with a tattoo or tags, microchipping animals has become increasingly popular in recent years. This form of registration involves implanting a microchip under the skin of your pet; the microchip uses an electronic signal to identify your pet. Microchipping seems to be getting more common most likely because of the effectiveness of microchipping in returning lost pets. At the moment, many animal shelters and rescue facilities encourage you to register your pet with a microchip because it allows them to quickly identify pets and their respective owners. In fact, some states require microchipping because they can verify your pet’s vaccination history and because they reduce the need to euthanize unidentified animals.
When you register your animal with a microchip, a veterinarian will record the identification number on the chip and then implant the chip. A test scan will be conducted to ensure that the chip is working properly. During the registration process, you will be required to fill out various forms that include information about your contact details, the medical history of your pet, as well as a physical description of your pet. This information can later be used to ensure the health and safety of your pet and to return your pet in case it gets lost or abducted.
