Microchip Registration - Arizona.
Should I register my pet's microchip?
Microchipping and registration in Arizona, and all other states, is a powerful tool in pet safety, acting as a permanent identification method for your furry friend. Cities like Apache Junction and Marana in Arizona have embraced its benefits by requiring that dogs impounded by shelters are microchipped before they are returned to their owners, with the cost presented to the owner. While this is a significant step forward in ensuring pets can be identified, it leaves a critical gap: the requirement to register the microchip.
What This Means for Pet Owners and Their Pets
Microchips are tiny devices implanted under a pet's skin, no bigger than a grain of rice, holding a unique ID number. When scanned, this number can be looked up via the AHAA look up tool showing you which database it’s registered to.
Remember if the contact details registered to the chip aren’t up to date, or the chip isn’t registered the unique ID becomes meaningless as the owner's contact information is not linked to the chip. Shelters and vets cannot locate the owner once the chip is scanned, rendering the microchip ineffective for reuniting lost pets with their families. Register your pet’s microchip with Petkey here.
Microchips are not GPS trackers.
Mandatory Microchipping Without Registration
The lack of a mandate for chip registration shifts responsibility onto the pet owner. Owners must understand that microchipping is only half the solution. Registration with a database like Petkey ensures the microchip can serve its purpose. Without registration, pet owners may falsely assume their pet is protected, creating a false sense of security.
Financial and Emotional Implications
For pet owners in Arizona, the financial burden of microchipping and registration may be a consideration, but it is often a fraction of the potential cost of losing a pet. The emotional toll of a missing pet is immeasurable, especially if an unregistered microchip complicates recovery efforts. Proactively registering the microchip with Petkey ensures owners benefit from this powerful technology.
For Pets: A Lifeline Lost
Arizona shelters, like Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, report a 21% return-to-owner rate, which is higher for microchipped and registered pets.
The absence of registration squanders this potential and leaves pets vulnerable to becoming unclaimed strays.
Closing the Gap
Owners must treat microchipping as a two-step process:
- Implant the chip.
- Register the chip to your contact details with a trusted service like Petkey and update information regularly.
While Apache Junction and Marana’s policies are progressive, advocates like us suggest that incorporating mandatory registration would make microchipping a truly comprehensive safety net for pets. Services like Petkey not only facilitate registration but also offer nationwide recovery networks, maximizing the chance of reuniting pets with their families.
Microchipping, combined with registration, is an invaluable safeguard for your pet. Arizona’s laws reflect a commitment to pet safety, but the responsibility lies with owners to take the extra step and register their pets’ chips. It’s a small effort for a priceless outcome: the peace of mind that your pet can always find their way back to you.
What does this all mean for you?
Microchipping alone isn't enough; owners must take the extra step to register their pet's chip and to also keep this information up-to-date. This small effort significantly boosts the likelihood of reunion in case your pet goes missing.
Don't wait until it's too late. Secure your pet’s safety today—because they’re family.
Visit Petkey to learn more about microchip registration and recovery services. For more information on Arizona's animal care laws, check out resources like the Arizona Humane Society or Lost Dogs Arizona.
