Microchips: What you need to know

A microchip is not a guarantee that your lost pet will return home, but it significantly increases the chances of reuniting with your companion.  Even if your pet doesn't run away, unexpected disasters can occur that may leave you separated.

Hurricane Katrina taught us a lot about the importance of permanent identification: the Louisiana SCPA reported that of the 15,000 rescued pets (not including the tens of thousands unaccounted for), only 15-20% made it back to their families.

The absolute best thing you can do to increase your pet's chances of returning home is have a collar with tags that display your cell phone number and home address. However, collars can be lost or removed, so we recommend a microchip as another means of identification.

---

Microchip Questions & Concerns

• "My pet doesn't need a microchip because she is indoor-only/listens when I call her/has a fenced-in yard/is always on a leash when outside, etc.​"

           As we learned with recent natural disasters, even the most well-behaved dogs and housebound cats can be at risk. Weather is unpredictable, fences can break, and pets can escape when startled by a contractor or fireworks. A microchip helps prepare for the unexpected.
​

• "But doesn't it hurt to insert a microchip? Does my pet need to be sedated?"

​            We routinely offer to microchip every pet that goes under anesthesia, but sedation is not necessary. The implant procedure is similar to a vaccination, and most pets show only minor discomfort.​

• "I don't like the idea of something foreign in my pet."

​  Each microchip comes individually sterilized, and is designed to stay harmlessly under your pet's skin. The microchip itself is small, only about the size of a grain of rice. There is no battery or power source - it uses RFID (radio-frequency identification) technology to transmit the pet's unique ID number only when it receives a signal from the microchip scanner.

I'd like my pet to be microchipped. What's next?

1. Call our office to schedule a brief appointment. If you prefer, existing clients can request an appointment online here.
2. Before implanting the microchip, we will scan your pet to ensure one was not previously inserted. The microchip is also scanned to verify that it properly transmits the ID number.
3. The microchip is implanted under the skin between the shoulder blades of dogs and cats. (Other species can also be microchipped, using other standardized locations.)
4. Once inserted, we will scan your pet again to confirm the microchip's location.
5. Your pet's unique microchip number will be entered into our database, and we will give you instructions on how to complete registration. This step is important! Keeping up-to-date contact information is critical to reuniting with your pet.

Additional Benefits

HomeAgain Benefits
We use HomeAgain microchips at Allegheny North Veterinary Hospital.  Lifetime registration is included in the cost of the microchip, so your pet's ID number will always be available in the searchable database.

​HomeAgain also offers additional membership benefits as an option, including 24/7 access to Lost Pet Recovery Specialists and $500 Travel Assistance to have your pet flown home if found over 500 miles away.

Lifetime Licensing
Microchipped dogs in Pennsylvania are eligible for a Lifetime Dog License. This saves you time and money, because it eliminates the need to pay an annual license fee to the treasurer. You'll need the lifetime license application form, as well as a Permanent Identification Verification Form (we must provide you with this at the office). These get sent with your payment to your county's treasurer.

From the Allegheny County Treasurer:
The fee for a Pennsylvania Lifetime Dog License is $51.50 for a non-neutered male or non-spayed female; $31.50 for a neutered male or spayed female. Senior citizens can purchase the lifetime licenses for $31.50 for a non-neutered male or non-spayed female; $21.50 for a neutered male or spayed female, respectively.