What is a Microchip?

Coastal Pet Rescue will hold another low-cost microchip clinic this coming Saturday, 1 to 4 pm, at Memorial Park on Tybee Island. We've had some questions recently regarding the clinic, so I decided to make a post that will hopefully answer them and encourage people to bring their pets.

How big is the microchip?
The chip itself is only the size of a grain of rice. The needle, therefore, is larger than the standard needle they would get with their annual shots.

Does it hurt them?
It pinches. Most of them react to the pressure they feel from the insertion of the chip. It is very quick, and we do use Lidocaine gel to numb the skin as much as possible. Some dogs will act as if nothing is going on; others will show you just how great their drama skills can be.

Where do you put the chip?
The chip is inserted between the shoulder blades just underneathe the skin.

Does it GPS them, so you can see where they are?
No, this isn't Lojack. The chip is essentially a bar code, much like what you see on products you purchase when grocery shopping. The scanners read the chips like the scanners at the grocery check outs. So someone must find the pet and take it somewhere to have it scanned for a chip. Coastal Pet Rescue maintains three scanners and has gone numerous times to scan found pets. Only once has a chip been found, but it was never registered correctly.

What information does it carry?
The chip itself does not carry any information other than the barcode. An ID number displays when the chip is scanned by a microchip reader. The person scanning calls a registry database with the ID number to get the owner's information (there are several registries: HomeAgain, AVID, 24PetWatch, PetLink). The owner is then called to reunite with their pet.

How do I register my information?
Coastal Pet Rescue submits registration forms from its clinics directly to 24PetWatch. The information on the form includes the owner's name, address, three phone numbers, the pet's name, date of birth, breed, age, sex, neutered status, date of last rabies vaccination, special medical needs, veterinarian's information, and an alternate emergency contact name and number. At the time your pet is microchipped at our clinic, you will receive a tear sheet with information and 24PetWatch's website. You have the option to register your pet that same day online or by phone for free. Once your pet is registered, you may use 24PetWatch's online tools, such as uploading a photo or adding additional information.

What do I do if I move or change my number?
24PetWatch does not charge you to change your information. This is the only way a microchip will truely work for your pet. When you have a change, you may login online and update it yourself or call their 800 number.

Why does Coastal Pet Rescue charge on $10 for this service?
We started doing the microchip clinics over three years ago because we found people were not doing them through their vets, mainly because of the cost. 24PetWatch is a program designed for shelters and rescues to make microchipping pets affordable and keep them from euthanasia. We do the clinics as a public service; this is not a fundraiser.

My pet never goes out of the house, so why should I do this?
Maybe your pet always lives indoors, but what happens in the event you have a sitter or friend that accidentally lets the pet out? Or how about if we have to do a hurricane evacuation again and your pet gets away? The microchip provides a permanent identification that will help your pet to be reunited with you, even if it travels thousands of miles away from home.