It’s said that one in three dogs will get lost in their lifetime. That’s a pretty high number. Only around 20% of lost dogs get returned to their owners, but that number goes up to almost 60% with microchipped dogs. It will likely cost around $50 to get it done, but it can provide a peace of mind you wouldn’t have otherwise.
That said, microchipping isn’t the only thing you should do for your dog. Not everyone is versed in microchipping technology. He should always be wearing an ID with your name and phone number just in case someone does not think to take him to a vet to get scanned. A microchip is not a GPS device. If they are not taken to a location where they can be scanned, it does not help you locate them.
Some will ask, “Does it hurt?” Sure, it might cause a little bit of a pinch, but it’s the size of a grain of rice and lasts just a couple seconds.
The next thing you want to make sure to do is register it to a national database like HomeAway so that if Fido does get lost and his chip is scanned, your information will be stored in a database so you can be contacted. Just like a forwarding address, you need to make sure your information stays current on the database. They may charge you a few dollars to update it, but it’s nothing extravagant.
So many animals are euthanized a day in shelters. Putting in a microchip could very well save your dog’s life. As Cesar Millan says on his website – cesarsway.com – “You’ll never regret doing it, but if your dog gets lost, you’ll always regret that you didn’t.”
