How Does Microchipping Work?

How Does Pet Microchipping Work?

Dog and cat microchipping is a simple procedure that can be performed at your veterinarian's office. Pet microchips are very small, roughly the size of a grain of rice and are inserted just beneath your pet's skin between their shoulder blades. Inserting the microchip is quick and safe similar to a routine shot. Pet Microchips are not a GPS Tracking Device. A pet microchip uses a radio frequency known as RFID to transmit the ID number stored on the microchip to the scanning device that reads the pet's unique number and displays it. Pet Microchips do not require a power source like a GPS (Global Positioning Device) so there are never any batteries to replace or charge. Since there are no moving parts or mechanics a microchip will last your pet's entire lifetime.

For more information on the importance of registering your pet's microchip AVMA, American Veterinary Medical Association provided this pod cast of an interview with Dr. Linda Lord, an associate professor at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Lord has conducted research showing how effective microchips are in reunited pets with their owners.
Click Here to listen to their pod cast

Why do I have to register my pet's microchip?

Once inserted a pet's microchip is merely just a device that contains a unique number. For your personal security and your pet's protection your emergency contact information must be linked to that unique identifier via a secure database.

It is important to register this unique microchip number with your contact information so that you can be reached immediately 24 hours a day if your pet is lost or found. When a missing pet is found, the shelter, vet or other recovering organization will scan the pet with a specialized pet microchip scanner to determine if a microchip is present. If the scanner detects the presence of a microchip, it will display only the unique microchip number on the read out. If that unique identifier is registered in a participating database the facility scanning your lost pet will be able to determine that the pet is registered to a pet owner and call to inform you that your pet has been found.

All microchips registered with Petkey will be listed in the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool.

Not sure of your pet's Microchip ID registration status?

Click Here and we can check for you or please call us at 734-600-3463.

To start your pet's registration online now Click Here

Do you need to transfer ownership of a pet's microchip?
Contact us at 734-600-3463 to begin the transfer process.

Petkey is a Participating Pet Recovery Service Registry for the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool. AAHA provides an internet-based application that enables veterinarians, humane organizations, pet owners or other persons to search various Pet Recovery Service Registries and identify those registries on which a particular microchip is registered. AAHA is not affiliated or involved with any specific microchip registry and has no relationship, financial or otherwise, with this Participating Pet Recovery Service Registry. This Registry has given AAHA permission to search the Registry's database in order to assist pet owners in being reunited with their pets. AAHA does not maintain a database of microchips of its own. It only links to registries such as this one. The AAHA Universal Microchip Lookup Tool only searches the databases of companies that elect to participate in the program.
http://www.petmicrochiplookup.org/

How do I Protect My Pet?

Step 1: Identification

Be sure your pet is microchipped and is wearing ID tags at all times.

Step 2: Registration

If your pet's ID is not registered they are not protected. It is important to register your pet's unique microchip number with your contact information so that you can be reached immediately 24 hours a day if your pet is lost or found.

Step 3: Maintenance

Be proactive in your pet's recovery. When you pet is missing every second counts. The moment you pet is lost or stolen an Alert is generated and sent out to your community. Once found, it is important that we are able to contact you right away so be sure to keep your online account updated with your most current contact information and have a backup contact listed as well.

Report Your Pet Missing

Is Your Pet Missing?

Alert Your Community!
When your pet is missing every second counts. Petkey lost pet alerts are the most proactive way to recover lost and stolen pets 24 hours a day 7 days a week. People find pets, so notifying your community the moment your pet goes missing is very important. If your pet is lost or stolen an Alert will be generated and sent to shelters, vets, pet businesses and members within a 25 mile radius of where your pet was last seen.

Verify Your Pet Is Registered Properly!
In addition, Petkey's International ID Registry will permanently register all of your pet's IDs including microchips, rabies tags, municipal tags and tattoo numbers in your name. If your pet does not have any form of ID Petkey will assign a unique identifier to your pet which can be laser etched onto a durable metal tag with the rest of your pet's important recovery information. Petkey's ™ Pet Id and Pet Microchip Registry are a 24 hour a day lost pet service. It is important that you make sure your contact information is up to date on your pet's registration.

How It Works

Once your pet is enrolled with petkey you will have unlimited access to your online account including your pet's photo, ID's, description and emergency contact information. Each member's personal information is completely secure with only the member and petkey's recovery specialists having access.

It is very important that you keep your contact information current. In the event that your pet does go missing every second counts and it is important that we are able to reach you immediately.

What if my pet has a microchip but it has not yet been registered?

Enroll any Brand of Pet Microchip

There are multiple databases for registering your pet's microchip and it is your choice where you register your pet's chip. In the United States you can even choose to register your pet in multiple databases if you would like but it is important that you choose a registry that participates with the AAHA Universal Microchip Lookup Tool as this is likely the first place a shelter or vet will look to determine if a pet is registered. petkey ™ is a Participating Pet Recovery Service Registry for the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool.

petkey registers any brand of microchip including AVID™, AKC CAR/EID™, Digital Angel®, Home Again®, ResQ®, ALLFLEX®, Schering Plough™, 24 PET WATCH™, Lifechip®, Banfield®, Crystal Tag™, Datamars™, Trovan®, PetLink™ & Destron Fearing™

Do you have a microchip registration form?

If you have a microchip registration form but you have not yet registered your pet's microchip over the phone, by mail or online your pet might not be protected yet.

Click Here and we can check for you or please call us at 734-600-3463.
To Print a Microchip Enrollment Form click here

How much does a microchip cost?

Pricing for implanting a microchip in your pet can vary but usually costs between $40-$70 at your vet's office. Most vets will offer a discount to microchip your pet in combination with a spay or neuter. You can also check with your local shelter to see if they have a microchip clinic scheduled in the near future. Once your pet is microchipped it is your responsibility to make sure that microchip number gets registered. Even if you think your vet might be doing it for you be sure to verify that all of your contact information is accurate. Check that your microchip is registered with the Universal Microchip Look Up.

AAHA provides an internet-based application that enables veterinarians, humane organizations, pet owners or other persons to search various Pet Recovery Service Registries and identify those registries on which a particular microchip is registered. AAHA is not affiliated or involved with any specific microchip registry and has no relationship, financial or otherwise, with this Participating Pet Recovery Service Registry. This Registry has given AAHA permission to search the Registry's database in order to assist pet owners in being reunited with their pets. AAHA does not maintain a database of microchips of its own. It only links to registries such as this one. The AAHA Universal Microchip Lookup Tool only searches the databases of companies that elect to participate in the program. http://www.petmicrochiplookup.org/

How much does it cost to register my pet's microchip?

We offer many affordable yearly or lifetime registration packages to fit everyone's budget starting as low as $19.99. Registrations for multiple pet households can be discounted by our registration specialists over the phone. We also offer Military discounts and discounted registration for pets that have been Adopted and Spayed or Neutered so call us at 734-600-3463 to benefit from these savings. If you had your pet microchipped by a participating organization you may be eligible for additional discounts.

My Pet Wears An ID Tag and Mostly Stays Inside.

Should They Still Be Microchipped?

ID Tags are great proactive protection for your pet. Your pet should wear a durable pet ID tag at all times but sometimes tags can fall off, collars are removed for bathtime, or we move and the ID tag still displays old contact information. Microchips are the only form of permanent ID that won't fall off protecting your pet 24/7. For this reason it is a very good precaution to microchip your pets including dogs, cats and other small animals.
Microchipping your pet can also help protect your personal contact information. When a vet or shelter scans your pet the unique identifier will be revealed and called in to the recovery center. We will contact you directly using the contact information stored on your secure account. You will always have 24 hour access to your online account so you can update your contact information whenever necessary.

What If My Pet Is Not Microchipped?

Petkey's ID registry powered by Petkey will permanently register all of your pet’s IDs including pet microchips, rabies tags, municipal tags and tattoo numbers in your name.

Petkey works with pets that are not microchipped as well. If your pet does not have any form of ID Petkey will assign a unique identifier to your pet which can be laser etched onto an ID tag with the rest of your pet’s important recovery information. Petkey's ™ ID and Pet Microchip Registry are a 24 hour a day lost pet service. It is important that you make sure your contact information is up to date on your pet's registration.

what would you do if your pet went missing?

How it Works