Microchipping your pet

We understand your pets mean everything to you and you want to make sure they are as safe as possible. We have created some useful information about how to microchip your pet.

Why should you get your pet microchipped?

It’s not only dogs that can have a microchipped fitted – cats, rabbits and ferrets can also have this done too. Microchipping gives your pet the best chance of being identified, found and returned to you should they get lost, stolen or stray.

• Peace of mind. If you pet goes missing, the animal can be easily scanned to see if they have a microchip, check your contact details and return your pet to you as quickly as possible
• Proof of ownership. Without a microchip, if your pet gets lost and is found by someone, they will not know who the pet belongs to and cannot be returned as easily
• Permanent identification. A microchip cannot be easily removed and provides a permanent method of identification for your pet
• The law. According to the new microchipping law that came into place on 6 April 2016, you must make sure your dog is microchipped and registered by the time it is 8 weeks old. You can be fined up to £500 if your dog is not microchipped

What is a pet microchip?

A pet microchip is a small computer chip that contains a unique code and matches to your pet’s details. The chip is placed under the skin of your pet and is usually a quick and easy procedure. Once the chip is in place, a handheld electronic device or scanner can detect the chip and will recognise the unique information that is held on the chip.

Who can fit a microchip?

Your pet’s microchip must be fitted by a trained and qualified professional, including your vet or vet nurse. You can also ask the following companies if they can fir the microchip:

• Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
• Blue Cross Centres
• Dogs Trust

Keep your details updated

Once your pet has been microchipped, make sure to always keep your details updated. If your address or telephone number changes, these can be easily updated with your current provider.

How can I check if my pet has a microchip or if my details are correct?

If you want to check if your pet has a microchip, your vet can scan them to check the details. When you have the microchip number, you can use Check A Chip to search the database and identify where a microchip is registered. You can then contact the correct database to change or update your details.

It’s important to get your pet microchipped as thousands of pets are lost each year, and many are never returned to their owners. While a collar and tag are still important to have on your pet, they are not a permanent solution and are not as effective as microchipping.

We get a lot of questions asking about pets and microchips. Our Microchip database was migrated over to a company called Indentibase Ltd in February 2017. You can visit www.identibase.co.uk or contact them using the following details: phone: 01904 487600, email: petprotect@anibase.com or address: Identibase, PO BOX 33, YORK, YO19 5YW