Get the 411 about Microchips

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Team with a collar and visible tag! Take our Love Tag Chip Challenge.

Microchips are only as powerful as their registration information

Not all microchips are created equal and may not be traced back to you easily even if you have properly registered them.  Learn about the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup and educate yourself about the type of chip used on your pet.  And a reminder that the microchip is useless if not registered and info kept up-to-date.

Even feral cats are sometimes microchipped during the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) process.  Learn more by visiting the Alley Cat Allies website.

Companies participating with AAHA is provided below and by clicking here.

Read our blog about the ROLE OF MICROCHIPS by clicking here.

See info below about 900 chips.

mighty microchip they can't phone home

 

IMPORTANT UPDATE ABOUT “SAVE THIS LIFE” MICROCHIPS!

Check out this link about the closure of Save This Life microchips and steps to make sure any of these microchips are registered elsewhere!

According to the article referenced “The implanted chips can still be read, but entries in the associated registry are no longer searchable. It was not immediately clear how many pets may be affected.”

 

Learn about the AAHA Universal Lookup
AAHA Info
AAHA shares that the 15-digit pet microchip is the international standard (see ISO 11784:1996 and ISO 11785:1996). If you travel to or move outside of the United States with your pet, consider having a 15-digit microchip implanted.
Current list of participating companies with AAHA
Please note that Save This Life microchip company is no longer in service so be sure to register any of these chips elsewhere!
MicrochipHelp.comHelp with dead end microchips
Microchip ID Companies Commonly Used with Rescues and Vets
24PetWatch
AKC Companion Animal Recovery (AKC-CAR)
EIDAP 
HomeAgain (includes Banfield chips)
BeKindPetFind (previously InfoPet)
Microchip I.D. Systems
PetKey
PetLink
SmartTag Microchip
Does not participate in AAHA
Avid 
Information from Lost Dogs of Illinois
 

“Does Your Pet’s Microchip Number Start With 900?

 
Microchips that start with 900 share a “code” with overseas or unreachable manufacturers.  Many of these microchips are sold by vet supply stores and on Amazon and will have no information on who bought the microchip.
 
Get your pet scanned at your vet. If the microchip number starts with 900, go to www.petmicrochiplookup.org to see if it is registered.
 
If it does not show that it is registered, make sure to register it to https://www.my24pet.com/ for free, or another microchip company if you choose, but make sure it is registered! This is the one exception to the rule of registering to the manufacturer.
 
If your rescue, shelter or vet is microchipping pets with the 900 prefix, please know that your organization may not be listed on the microchip automatically, making it difficult to reunite lost pets with their families. Be sure to register your organization as the alternate contact. Better yet, register for the owner as the primary contact!
 
Our volunteer team, Microchip Hunters, are seeing an increase in these microchips and it is disheartening. By making sure to register and keep your contact information current, we can help get your loved pets home quickly!”