600 pets lost every day. The importance of the microchip.

Alarmingly, between 200,000-250,000 pets get lost every year across Australia – that’s an average of 600 per day.

According to Central Animal Records (CAR), these hapless animals arrive at shelters or vet clinics and some of them have no way of being reunited with their owners... either because they are not carrying a microchip or pet ID Tag and cannot be identified, or their owner’s contact details are out of date.

AnimalCare spoke with Craig Montgomery, Communications and PR Manager of Animal Welfare League Queensland (AWLQ) who stated that currently an average of 200 healthy cats and dogs in pounds and shelters are being euthanised daily. Heartbreakingly, 25 per cent of these animals have microchips, but the owner's hasn't updated their contact details.

“With one in three pets getting out or lost at some stage, microchips and registration are a pet’s best chance of being returned safely home if they do go missing,” says Montgomery.

“While collars and tags can help reunite lost pets with their families, they can easily fall off or be removed and tags can fade. Microchips are a permanent, and the most reliable, method of identification.

“In fact, microchipped dogs are more than twice as likely to be returned to their owners, and microchipped cats are more than 20 times as likely to be returned to their owners.”

What does a pet microchip do, exactly?

A microchip is a permanent method of electronic identification. The chip itself is very small – about the size of a grain of rice – and is implanted with a needle just under the skin between the shoulder blades at the back of the pet’s neck.

Each chip has a unique number that is detected using a microchip scanner. The microchip number is recorded on a microchip database registry with details about the animal and owner.

Council pounds, local vet clinics, and animal shelters are all equipped with devices to scan microchips. If a lost animal is left with them, they will be scanned - the microchip identification number will be looked up on the national database and the owner will be contacted straight away.

It’s not just cats and dogs that can be microchipped. Most animals, including birds, horses, reptiles, fish (!!!), and other aquarium species, small mammals, and livestock can also have a microchip implanted.

“AWLQ strongly supports microchipping,” says Montgomery. “It’s the critical means of reuniting pets with their owners.

“We would, however, like to see microchipping and registration of all pets mandated across all states with registration via a single national database. At the moment, there are different rules for each state, and multiple registers which is messy and often ineffective.”

Reece Weeder, business development manager for Central Animal Records (CAR) agrees that a national approach is vital. Established in 1989, CAR is now Australia’s largest and most trusted microchip register and pet identification service provider. In 34 years, it has helped reunite over 2.2 million lost pets Australia-wide.

“The most important thing to remember about microchips is that they can only do their job if they are registered in a pet recovery database, with up-to-date contact information,” adds Weeder. “And obviously a national database is preferable as animals can often be found outside of their home state.

Microchipping is compulsory for cats and dogs in most states and territories, but unfortunately not all states mandate registration on a national database. For example, should you have a pet in NSW or SA that gets lost and is somehow found in another state, there is simply no way of determining where they belong.

“For a once-off fee of $10 per pet, CAR offers owners peace of mind, and a lifetime of reliable and permanent pet identification, as well as access to all services including 24/7 access to online accounts 365 days a year.

CAR also provide durable collar tags with a unique QR code linked to the pet’s microchip number that anyone finding the pet can scan and trigger alerts to the owner. All contact information is kept private, and the reuniting process is streamlined and efficient.

Further reading: How to choose the best pet tracking device for your dog

“It is very important that owners keep their contact details up to date on the database so that if they move house or change phone numbers, they will still be contactable in the event of a pet becoming lost/straying. Sadly, Central Animal Records conducts over 2000 recoveries every year for pets that are not listed on any national or state database,” adds Weeder.

“Providing the details for a secondary contact person is also a good idea. If a pet is transferred to a new owner, the new owner must ensure their contact details are recorded on the database.”

Where can I microchip my pet?

Ideally a pet cat or dog should be microchipped prior to purchase or adoption. In most states that is a legal requirement. However, if owners are unsure, it is recommended that they make an appointment with a vet to have the pet scanned or microchipped.

Only authorised microchip implanters are permitted to microchip pets. Vets and animal welfare organisations can microchip pets, and in some states local councils also organise microchipping days.

Is my pet registered?

If you need to update your contact details and aren’t sure which database your pet is registered with, search Pet Address using your pet’s microchip number. Pet Address will direct you to the national pet registry that lists your pet’s microchip number so you may contact them directly.

As all five national databases use the Pet Address system to check for listings prior to allowing new registrations, microchips are prevented from being listed on multiple national databases.

Currently there are five private microchip registries and two state government registries. As all five national databases use the Pet Address system to check for listings prior to allowing new registrations, microchips are prevented from being listed on multiple national databases:
1. Australasian Animal Registry
2. Central Animal Records
3. Petsafe
4. HomeSafeID
5. Global Micro
6. NSW Pet Registry
7. Dogs and Cats Online (South Australia)