Information on the Home Again Microchip

The Home Again microchip is a tiny microchip with a unique ID number. Inserted under a pet's skin, it allows registered veterinarians, police stations, or shelters to identify a missing pet and contact its owner.

  1. How Home Again Works

    • The Home Again microchip is contained inside a glass vial the size of a grain of rice. When a lost pet is taken into a registered police station, vet's office, or shelter, the vet or officer uses a small scanner to pick up the chip's ID number. That ID number is matched to the owner's information, and the owner is contacted.

    How the Home Again Microchip Is Inserted

    • Injecting the Home Alone chip shouldn't hurt more than an ordinary shot.

      A vet or vet tech inserts the Home Again chip between the animal's shoulder blades via a large hypodermic needle. Some vets chip pets during spaying or neutering procedures, while the pet is already under sedation. However, the injection should cause your pet no more discomfort than ordinary vaccinations and is often given during a puppy's or kitten's first round of shots.

    Price and Maintenance

    • Home Again costs around $45 to implant, and never needs replacement. However, a Home Again "subscription" costs $16.99 annually (2010 figures) and must be renewed every year during your pet's lifetime.

    When Your Pet Is Lost

    • Home Again subscribers may use the service's website and 24/7 toll-free hotline to report missing pets. However, don't forget to call your local police station, animal shelter, or vet's office as well. The Home Again FAQ claims that 6.5 million pets are found each year via its service.

    Competition and "Universal Scanners"

    • Home Again is a service, rather than a name for the chip itself. Its primary competitor is AVID (www.avidid.com). However, most vets and shelters use a "universal scanner" that identifies all pet microchips.