Pet parents can check their pets’ microchip any day of the year. However, with the busy lives of pets and their families, having a designated day on August 15 for National Check the Chip Day is a great annual reminder.
Microchipping is important because it can help identify your pet if they are lost and found by a stranger – but it can’t tell you where your pet is, so that is not the only way to keep our pets protected. Checking your pets’ escape risks, having a family lost-pet plan, keeping them from getting lost in the first place, or finding them quickly are just a few things to keep in mind. When checking your chips this year, make sure to consider the following:
- Check the chip – Find your pet’s microchip number. If you don’t know it by heart, you can check vet bills, adoption paperwork, or tags. Free scans are also available at your veterinary clinic if you can’t remember. Then run a search in the AAHA Microchip Registry Lookup to find your registration. From there, you can contact them to update your information. Keeping your data current is critical.
- Check the collar and ID tag – Make sure your pet’s collar is secure and fits well. All information on tags should be legible in case your pet becomes lost and should include a current phone, and address.
- Consider location tracking- GPS pet location and activity trackers like Pawfit are now made lighter than ever and can fit dogs and cats of all sizes. A tracker can tell you exactly where your pet is in real time. While microchipping helps with identification, a tracker can tell you their exact location.
Microchipping is an important part of your pet’s safety plan for when they are lost to help identify your pet, but a GPS tracker can help you find the location of your pet immediately. Both technologies are important considerations for pet safety. A microchip gives a pet a way home, and a GPS gives you a way to find them. Together, they can provide even more protection if your pet becomes lost.
