Even with our ultimate, very best efforts, sometimes our dogs get out and become lost. Micro-chipping your dog is one of the very best ways to bring him home safely again.

A microchip implant is an identifying integrated circuit placed under the skin of a dog, cat, horse, parrot or another animal. The chip, about the size of a large grain of rice, uses passive RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. Collars and tags are still important, but if your dog becomes lost, he may also lose his collar and tags. This is where having a microchip becomes very important.

Microchips have many positive uses. If your dog becomes lost, an animal shelter can read the microchip to be sure the dog gets back to his rightful owner. This is one of its best uses. When a pet has a microchip, it can often prevent euthanasia. Some microchips operate the opening and closing of pet doors and keep other, unwanted animals like raccoons out.

The microchip is very small and can be inserted with a syringe without anesthesia. A lot of veterinarians recommend microchips. Once the glass-encased chip is inserted, it can be read with a hand-held scanner, which will show an alphanumeric number. This number can then be used to find the owners of the dog should it become lost, IF the microchip has been properly registered by the owner.

Microchip manufacturers maintain a lost dog database, which increases the likelihood that your pet can be returned to you safe and sound. Some manufacturers send out lost pet alerts to likely places with the radius of your home, like shelters, vets, humane societies, etc.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has supported the use of microchips since 2007 because of the positive benefits. And did you know that there is the American MicroChip Advisory Council for Animals (AMACA), which has declared: “It is undisputed that microchips save pets’ lives. I expect that countless pets that are lost or displaced by hurricanes and other natural disasters will be saved over the years because the USDA supports and encourages the use of microchips.”

Wisteria Goldens microchips all their puppies as a way of keeping them safe, ensuring the line of heritage, and providing extraordinary service and peace of mind to all our puppy owners should their dog become lost. Once the puppies are micro-chipped, they are then entered into a recovery database.

The technology for microchips is improving. Sometimes the chips migrate from the spot of injection to another part of the dog’s body. Not all scanners work perfectly. If the microchip is old, sometimes even universal scanners can’t find it. Nonetheless, it’s a better way to oversee your dog’s safety and bring him back home as soon as possible should he become lost.

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