Microchipping

Microchipping your pet is recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, and the Humane Society of the United States.

Many people have misunderstandings about microchips, so here’s what you need to know:

• A microchip doesn’t store your information. It only holds a unique ID number, like your pet’s “social security number.” For it to work, it must be registered online. Without registration, it’s just a useless tag. Remember to update the registration if you move or change your contact info.
• Just because a shelter microchipped your pet doesn’t mean it’s registered to you. The chip may still be registered to the shelter or previous owner, or even left unregistered.
• Microchips are not GPS trackers. They don’t emit signals and can only be read by a scanner. If you want GPS tracking, you’ll need a collar tag.
• You can register any microchip with any registry and even with multiple ones. For example, if your pet has an AVID chip, it can be registered with HomeAgain, AKC, and Found Animals.
• Microchips can be implanted at any age.

For more info, visit www.petlink.net/. To schedule an appointment, call Churchville Veterinary Hospital.