Microchips for identification of pet animals are an issue that urgently needs proper explanation.

Microchips do offer an extra kind of pet protection.

They are a good idea. They can save pets that go missing that might otherwise not be returned home.

Most people probably know that microchips are implantable radio frequency transponders that can be used for pet identification purposes. A microchip is like any other kind of animal name/number “tag” except that this kind of “tag” is electronic, permanent and unseen. Microchips offer a nice, clean, safe and reliable means of pet ID.

BUT!!!

Because the veterinary practice (or microchip centre) that does the implanting is extremely unlikely to be the agency that has to scan to identify that same animal (when and if that is ever required), you don't have to be a Rhodes scholar to work out that unless everyone is using the same “chip-scanner-registry” system, it can’t be guaranteed to work at all.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE:

Buying a microchip implant is easy – anyone can do that. If you want this kind of “tag” to work properly, the “chip” has to work properly and the “registry” has to work also. Not all do!