Many pets go missing in Santa Monica every year, and some never return to their original homes. Fortunately, we can reduce this problem using a tiny transponder called a microchip. The microchip is one of the most effective ways to stay connected to your pet, even if they are miles away.
A microchip acts as a permanent ID that enables a hospital or shelter to identify, locate, and contact a lost pet's owner. Furthermore, microchipping is quick, easy, safe, and virtually painless for every pet.
Each microchip contains a very small passive transponder with no internal power source. Instead, the microchip relies on a wand-like device called a scanner, which emits radio waves. When the radio waves reach the microchip, they give it just enough power to transmit its ID number to the scanner. Each microchip has its own unique ID number that must be registered with the owner's contact information to be effective.
A microchip should be placed between the shoulder blades. Once implanted, we can scan your pet's chip to make sure it's functional. If your pet gets lost and is brought to a shelter or other animal hospital, a staff member can scan for your pet's microchip number, enter it into the database, and find your information.
Registering your contact information with your pet's microchip number is extremely important. If your microchip is not in a database or is registered under outdated information, it will not be useful. Furthermore, you should not rely solely on your pet's microchip. A collar and updated ID tags are also very important, being the first thing people generally look for when they find a person's lost pet.
We would be more than happy to help you register your pet's microchip, or you can visit the manufacturer's website for more information. If you are interested in microchipping your pet or would like to learn more, contact us at (310) 393-8218.