The importance of microchipping: reuniting with your pet

Microchipping is one of the easiest ways to ensure your pet returns home safely if they ever get lost. In the Netherlands, it has been mandatory for dogs to be microchipped since April 1, 2013. For cats, this requirement only applies when traveling abroad, but microchipping is also strongly recommended for cats.

The microchipping itself is a short, painless procedure at the vet. After that, it is crucial that the chip is registered in a database and that your contact details are always up to date. This is the only way a missing animal can be quickly reunited with its owner.

How does microchipping work?

When a microchipped animal ends up in a shelter, the number is always checked. The owner’s details are linked to that chip number. This allows the animal to go straight back home if the registration is correct. Unfortunately, it often happens that a chip was never registered. A microchipped but unregistered cat may therefore stay in the shelter longer, or eventually have to find a new home.

If an animal is not microchipped at all, it becomes more difficult to find the owner. In that case, the animal stays in the shelter for at least two weeks, after which a new owner is sought. Reports to national websites such as Amivedi also help, but preventing your pet from being away from home for a long time is, of course, better.

Keep your chip details up to date

Is your pet microchipped? Then always check if your contact details are correct. If you move or change your phone number, update this immediately in the chip database. This way, if your pet escapes, they can quickly come back home safely.

Via www.chipnummer.nl you can check if your pet’s chip is registered. If it isn’t, register it immediately with one of the recognized databases. There are often costs involved, but it is a small investment for your pet’s safety.

Every shelter animal microchipped upon adoption

Animals placed through a shelter always have a chip that is registered directly in the new owner’s name. In this way, shelters contribute to a world where pet and owner are only one phone call away from each other.

Microchipping is a small action with a big benefit: the chance of your pet returning home safely if they get lost increases enormously.