OCALA, FL (352today.com) – One moment your pet is by your side, and the next, they’ve vanished.
Microchipping can help reunite lost pets with their families, but its effectiveness depends on proper registration and updated information.
“It significantly increases the chances of reunification, but it doesn’t stop it,” said Kyra Lynch, Marion County Animal Services director. “The chips have to be registered, and people have to keep the information up to date as they move, as they change phone numbers, as they go to different locations, email addresses, and emergency contacts.”
Lynch emphasized that registration isn’t limited to the chip’s manufacturer. Pet owners can register their microchip with any company, including free registries.
“Marion County Animal Services recommends pet owners register with as many companies as possible,” she said. “If money’s an issue, they can always register it with a free pet registry—there are at least two out there right now.”
Ensuring accurate data is crucial for microchipping to be effective.
“We constantly have situations where information isn’t updated – phones are out of service, people have moved, people have rehomed pets, and it’s to an old past owner,” said Lynch. “Sometimes they think their pet has a microchip and that’s all they have to do. That’s not the case.”
While microchipping is a one-time procedure, owners must take responsibility for maintaining accurate records to ensure their pet’s safety.
“Always encourage people to microchip – that really is the first step in the piece of the puzzle,” Lynch said, “Making sure that they have that information up-to-date as much as possible to with whatever company they would like to go with; it doesn’t need to be with the microchip manufacturer themselves, and making sure that it stays with them as they move again. If they change phone numbers, change email addresses, addresses – anything like that – rehoming the pet, too. If the pet’s rehomed, make sure that that information is updated to the new pet owner, as well.”
While microchipping is a one-time procedure, owners must take responsibility for maintaining accurate records to ensure their pet’s safety.
Some pet owners may be confused by microchip companies offering annual subscriptions, but Lynch clarified that these are optional.
“The subscription is never required,” she said. “So, what this subscription does, is performs or allows for some additional services should that pet become lost at some point, they will send out flyers to certain people, they’ll do some additional services that they offer, but that annual subscription, isn’t required for people. There are also microchip registration companies that are completely free of charge to at least get that pet registered and hopefully get back with you if they ever go on a walkabout.”