How to Locate a Chipped Animal

Micro-chipping your pet is like putting a permanent collar on your pet. The procedure involves placing a small chip the size of a grain of rice inside your dog. According to The Pet Medic, microchips are commonly placed between the shoulder blades by a vet or someone who works at an animal shelter. This is a minor procedure that is painless to the animal. This small chip contains a unique number that corresponds to a number in a national database which has your stored contact information. If an animal runs away and is later found, it can be scanned with a hand-held device by a shelter, dog catcher or veterinary clinic to locate the chip and eventually locate you.

Instructions

  1. How to Find a Chipped Animal

    • 1

      Call your veterinary office to report your missing animal. Dog's Owner's Guide says many lost animals are taken to veterinary clinics to be scanned for a microchip.

    • 2

      Call the local animal control center where runaway dogs are taken and give them a description of your pet.

    • 3

      Have them scan all animals matching your description to see if there's a microchip. According to Colorado Animal Rescue, if your pet ends up in a shelter, a microchip could save its life because most dog pounds do not euthanize an animal if it is chipped.

    • 4

      Update your contact information. You vet can update the microchip database if you're out of town or have moved.