Microchipping pets has become common practice in some parts of the United States, and we at Journey Home Animal Care Center always advocate for our community to microchip their cats and dogs. Thanks to microchips, you can increase the likelihood of being reunited with a lost pet. In reference to this study from 2009, the American Veterinary Medical Association states that “microchipped animals are far more likely to be returned to their owners” at a rate of double the stray dogs, and even more for cats.
Microchip databases are used across the country, and are easily accessible by shelters, animal hospitals, and animal control to get more information on the animal when the owner is not present. Universal scanning tools are the key to finding answers, regardless of which microchipping company is used. Although Colorado does not currently require microchip scanning by animal shelters, it is a required part of our intake workflow with every stray at Journey Home Animal Care Center.
Some pets even spend years on the run, until they’re picked up and brought into a local shelter. Shelter employees will scan them for a microchip, with the hope of calling their human family to come pick them up. In 2024, we had our own special reunion story:
Minnie came into our shelter thanks to a Good Samaritan. She had been found as a stray, and brought to our care. Strangely enough, her microchip was registered to someone over four hours away! We called the number on her registration, but didn’t receive a reply due to the owner’s dead phone battery. That is, until her owner’s family member saw our post on Facebook. Turns out, Minnie had been missing for over six months after sneaking outside during a family visit to New Castle. They had tried everything to catch her over that time, including traps and trail cams. Her family had been heartbroken to be heading home without her in the spring, and were thrilled to learn that she was alive and safe. They drove down to pick her up, and she is now back home on the Front Range. She only had to spend several days in our facility. Minnie’s story is not unique. It shows that even if you are the most attentive and loving pet owner accidents can still happen, and taking advantage of tools to help your pet get home just in case can really pay off.
Information often included on a pet’s microchip registration:
- The owner’s name.
- Their home address.
- The owner’s contact details, including home telephone number, mobile number and email address.
- Your pet’s identification number.
- Their name, gender and date of birth.
- Their breed, fur colour and any identifiable markings
When microchips work they can make a serious difference in keeping animals out of shelters, and back with their families. Always make sure to update your pet’s microchip information when moving or changing phone numbers, and have your vet check to be sure it hasn’t migrated from the ideal space between their shoulder blades. The most common reason for a microchipped animal to not be returned to their owners is an incorrect phone number on their chip registration. Adoptable animals from Journey Home Animal Care Center are all provided with a microchip, as well as instructions on how their new owner can register the chip with their correct information.
Want to microchip your cat or dog? Schedule an appointment with our clinic by calling: (970) 625-8808
DISCLAIMER: This post has been reviewed by any pertinent staff members of JHACC. Artificial Intelligence has in no way been used to create this content, and it is considered correct to the best of our knowledge as of the date of publication.
SOURCES:
https://www.animallaw.info/article/faq-mandatory-scans-microchips
https://petscanner.com/index.php/2021/08/02/what-is-stored-in-a-pets-microchip/
