How does a microchip work on a lost pet?

Question

Just wondering how exactly it works if your pet is microchipped and they get lost? Is it like a GPS thing where they can track down your dog or are they put into some kind of database?

Answer 1

It is like a bar code in the grocery.

When the animal is picked up by the police, pound, or shelter, they will automatically scan to see if the animal can be identified. Then they will have your contact info.

It also helps in ownership dispute. If two parties claim to own an animal, the chip will prove the true owner.

Answer 2

No it does not track pets.

It holds a barcode on it, which can be scanned to bring up a code. The microchip company is then rung - they have your contact details and pet's description on their database, and they find it using that code. You can then be contacted to be told where your pet is.

Most people who would pick up a lost animal can scan for the microchip - vets, charities, dog wardens. It's a pretty good, and permenant way of identifying your pet as yours. Collars can be removed but microchips are for life!

Chalice

Answer 3

When an animal is lost and brought to either a vet or a shelter, it will be scanned all over with what's called an 'AVID' scanner (they are scanned all over just to make sure they don't miss a chip, since there's a chance the chip could have moved under the skin.) If the AVID detects a chip, it will read a long number, sort of like a serial number. The vet/shelter can then contact the microchip database and look up the information related to that serial number (address etc). This is how pets return home! :)

Answer 4

Hi,

A microchip is not a GPS tool and does not relay information as to where the lost pet whereabout it. However, it is an identifying tool, as described by the contributor before me. Within the microchip, is a registry number that is recorded into the main database of the microchip company.

When a pet is lost and found, a scan of the microchip will help identify information data which can help lead the pet back to its owner and vice versa.

Here's a great FAQ from the Humane Society that can help you understand more about this important tool:-

http://www.hsus.org/pets/issues_affectin...