{"id":597,"date":"2025-08-15T09:00:48","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T16:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sfspca.org\/importance-of-microchipping\/"},"modified":"2025-08-15T11:20:05","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T18:20:05","slug":"importance-of-microchipping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sfspca.org\/blog\/importance-of-microchipping\/","title":{"rendered":"Importance of Microchipping Your Pet"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Each year, countless pets are lost and never reunited with their families. Outfitting your pet with a collar and ID tag is essential, but the <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">single most important<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> step you can take is to microchip your pet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Microchips dramatically increase the odds of getting your beloved pet home safely. Lost dogs are <\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">2.5 times<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> more likely to be returned from a shelter if <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">they\u2019re microchipped<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. For cats, the impact is even greater. They\u2019re <\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">21.4 times<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> more likely to make it back home, according to a study conducted by the American Veterinary Medical Association.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Getting your pet microchipped could mean the difference between life and death. For the microchip to successfully reunite you with your pet, the information it contains must be up to date. If you move, change your phone number, or need to include different points of contact, be sure to update your contact information on the online chip registry.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What is a microchip?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A microchip is a tiny, lifesaving device\u2014about the size of a grain of rice\u2014implanted just beneath the skin between your pet\u2019s shoulder blades. Each chip has a unique identification number linked to your contact information.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When a lost pet <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">is brought<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> to a shelter or veterinary clinic, staff scan for a chip and quickly reach out to the registered guardian. It\u2019s important to know that <\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">microchips are not GPS devices<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> and cannot track your pet\u2019s location. Microchips only work if your contact information in the registry is current.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Once my pet <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">is microchipped<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, is there anything else I need to do?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Many people assume their pet\u2019s microchipping is complete when the shelter\/rescue initially registers it on adoption day. But, <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">in order for<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> the chip to connect to your information, you need to follow up with the registry. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When you <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sfspca.org\/adoptions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">adopt from the San Francisco SPCA<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, our adoption staff registers your pet\u2019s microchip with\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/email.sfspca.org\/t\/i-l-xuluhjd-l-t\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">24PetWatch.com<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. It is then the pet guardian\u2019s responsibility to submit contact information either on the website or by calling (866) 597-2424.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What if I don\u2019t know where my microchip is registered?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you don\u2019t know the registry, start with your adoption paperwork, which should list the microchip number and the company. If you can\u2019t find that information, visit the <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aaha.org\/for-veterinary-professionals\/microchip-search\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">American Animal Hospital Association\u2019s Microchip Lookup Tool<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. This tool can tell you which registry to contact so you can make updates.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Microchipping is a quick and safe tool that can mean the difference between life and death for a lost pet. All animals adopted from the SF SPCA are microchipped <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">prior to<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> adoption to help pet guardians reunite with their pets in case of an emergency. By taking just a few minutes to keep your contact information current, you\u2019re giving your pet the best possible chance of finding their way home.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Each year, countless pets are lost and never reunited with their families. 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