Despite our best intentions, pets go missing – whether lost or stolen from their yards – all the time. In fact, according to estimates from American Humane, 10 million are lost every year. To protect your pet and increase the chances of reuniting if your pet is lost, we strongly recommend microchipping pets.
3 Reasons to Get a Microchip for Your Pet
1. Collars and Tags Are Not Reliable
While we always recommend outfitting pets with a collar and ID tag, these are not the most reliable forms of identification for pets. Microchips are permanent, they do not wear out, and they cannot be lost as a result of getting caught on a fence or tree branch. Additionally, if your pet is stolen, a microchip is not only a permanent form of identification but also permanent proof of ownership.
2. Microchips Work!
Microchips really do increase the odds of reuniting with a lost pet. A study of almost 8,000 pets in animal shelters showed:
- 21.9% of dogs without microchips reunited with their owners compared to 52.2% of microchipped dogs.
- 1.8% of cats without microchips reunited with their owners compared to 38.5% of microchipped cats.
3. The Process Is Quick and Easy
The process of microchipping a pet is quick and easy, and it doesn’t even require anesthetics. Microchips are about the size of a grain of rain and are inserted just beneath the skin between a dog’s or cat’s shoulder blades, using a hollow needle. Similar to receiving a vaccination, pets experience a slight poking or pinching sensation at the time of the insertion, and this only lasts a few seconds.
Once your pet is microchipped, we provide you with your pet’s microchip number and the instructions for registering your pet’s name and your contact information in a national database of pet microchip ID numbers. It’s important to register this information and keep it up to date so that you can always be contacted if your pet is lost and turned into a veterinarian or animal shelter.
Pet Microchips With our Veterinarian in Goldsboro
At Eastwaye Veterinary Clinic, our veterinarian Dr. John Lewis encourages all pet owners to have their dogs and cats microchipped. The process is simple and can even be done during your pet’s regular wellness exam. To learn more about microchips or schedule an appointment, we welcome you to contact our office anytime.
