MICROCHIPS – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

lost dog near stream

Micochips are a wonderful tool in the toolbox of lost pet recovery. BUT, we see time and time again, owners of microchipped dogs relying on the microchip to bring their dog home instead of getting out and doing the legwork of flyering and signs. Generating sightings through flyers and signs is the NUMBER ONE way that lost dogs are reunited. When you rely on your dog’s microchip you are making 3 VERY bold assumptions:

1. That your dog will be caught and scanned. Scared lost dogs are often fearful of humans and may live for months or years on their own. Also, many finders do not take a found dog to be scanned for a microchip and may keep or rehome the dog instead. The dog may live the rest of his life in a new home without ever being scanned.

2. That the microchip is working. If you do not regularly have your veternarian check to make sure that your microchip is still working, you may be putting false hope in something that doesn’t function. When was your lost dog’s microchip last checked? Is your contact information up to date?

3. That the microchip is detected during the scanning procedure. Weak scanner batteries, migrated microchips in the dog’s body, and improper scanning techniques (such as scanning on a metal exam table) can cause your dog’s microchip to be missed.

PLEASE, don’t put all of your eggs in the microchip basket. File a report with our partner Pet FBI, print out your free flyers and deliver them door to door in the area where your dog was last seen. No sightings? Expand the radius. Your dog is depending on YOU (not his microchip) to bring him safely.

5-12-22