Tracking Devices or Chips for Animals

Tracking devices and chips, many of which use RFID technology, can help you locate your lost pet or identify an animal. A microchip can help you locate your beloved cat or dog, while you may consider a different type of tracking device for larger livestock, or if you do not want to surgically implant a tracking chip into your animal.

  1. Types

    • The microchip is a common type of animal tracking device. Your veterinarian can inject the rice-sized integrated circuit just beneath the skin of your cats, dog or other pet. Each chip has a unique identification number that uses RFID, or radio-frequency identification, technology and is readable by an RFID scanner. The HomeAgain system, Microchip ID and Avid are some of the available systems. In the case of livestock, owners may tag their animals with RFID-enabled ear tags, of which Destron Fearing and Duflex are some of the leading options. An alternative to microchips or earring tags is the RIFD collar, which you can purchase for your pet from manufacturers and other retailers. These collars use the same RFID and are detectable by scanners.

    Function

    • When you take your pet to the veterinarian to obtain a microchip, or when you update your information, the veterinarian will send the information to a company that keeps a registry of microchip data. If your pet becomes lost, the humane society or a veterinarian can scan for a microchip and, upon locating one, can contact the registry company. The company can then contact you, using the information associated with the unique identification number of your dog or cat's microchip, alerting you to the location of your pet.

    Benefits

    • As a pet owner, a microchip or other RFID system can help you to locate your pet, should he escape from your home or leash. When someone finds your pet, the authorities or shelter can scan for the chip to more quickly return your pet. Shelters can save money on temporarily caring for and homing a lost pet by expediting your pet's return to you. Additionally, if your pet is within range (for example, still close to your home), you may be able to locate her with a scanner with the aid of an radio-frequency identification (RFID) scanner.

    Considerations

    • RFID collars and tags present the same shortcomings off the traditional collar: even if your pet starts out with a collar, it may break, or he may slip out of it. For this reason, you may consider Sub-dermal microchips because they are more difficult for your pet or another animal to remove. However, some RFID collars or tags also work with RFID pet door systems like those by Cat Mate or Pet Porte. You may prefer a solution that not only identifies your cat or dog, but can permit your pet (and no other animal) access to your home. If you are considering micro-chipping your pet, your veterinarian or shelter may submit their contact information to the database company and contact you, should the company contact them. This enables shelters to monitor animals that they adopt out.