Microchip Identification     

Thousands of pets become lost every day, and Microchip Identification is the one reliable way to reunite these lost pets with their owners.  The procedure is safe, inexpensive, and practically painless.  If your pet becomes lost and is microchipped, your chances of getting your furry friend back are dramatically improved.

The microchip itself is about the size of a grain of rice.  It contains a tiny metallic "bar code" surrounded by an inert membrane which makes it non-reactive when it is placed under the skin. The microchip is injected under the skin between the shoulder blades with a hypodermic-type syringe.  Although the needle itself is larger than those used for vaccinations, the chip itself has no sting, so most pets don't seem to notice more than any other injection.  Implanting an animal with a microchip is a simple procedure and can be done at any age.  Once the chip is in place, it should be there for the life of the pet.

When your pet is fitted with our HomeAgain brand microchip they have a unique universal identifier on at all times.  The universal chip can be read on a variety of scanners, including those found at veterinary hospitals, animal control and humane society facilities.  It is also readable on international scanners, so your pet can be identified all over the world. These scanners are very reliable and easy to use. Once a microchip is found, a special hotline is called, and the lost pet is reported.  The pet owner is then called immediately and given the contact information about where to pick up their pet.

Regardless of the type of chip, every pet should have a microchip ID.  Some owners believe that their pet doesn't need identification because it is always in the house, but it is our experience these are the most likely pets to become lost when they get outside by accident. As separation from your pet can happen all too easily, appropriate identification, ideally permanent identification by use of microchip, is critical.  Industry data claim that 8,000 pets every day are located and returned home because they have a microchip.  Be sure to protect your pet.

Ahwatukee Animal Care Hospital uses the HomeAgain microchip system.  HomeAgain provides a number of very useful services to pet owners such as their National Pet Recovery Database, Lost Pet Specialists, Rapid Loss Pet Alerts, Lost Pet Medical insurance, Travel Assistance for Found Pets and more.

Looking for your pet?  

Click here to access the Universal Pet Microchip Lookup: www.petmicrochiplookup.org

For more information, visit our Microchipping Your Pet: A Safe and Reliable Pet ID page.