Source: olgaoravenko/Shutterstock.com If you own a pet or you’re thinking of owning one, you’ve probably heard all about microchips. Whether you heard it from a friend or went browsing online, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve found a lot of information regarding microchips and their uses. However, there’s a lot of misinformation going around about microchips, so let’s talk a bit more about them. Microchips CAN … - Help recover lost animals. When an animal is brought to a shelter or vet, the staff can use a scanning device to find the contact information of the registered pet owner. When used alongside a silicone dog tag, microchips are the most effective way to recover lost pets. A Silicone Dog Tag Can Hold Your Phone Number and Their Microchip Number - Show contact information for pet owners. The contact information stored in a microchip is usually the name, phone number and address of the registered pet owner. However, if a pet was rehomed without the use of a shelter, the contact information will be for the most recent person registered as the owner. That’s why it’s important to take every pet you find to a local shelter and have them scanned for a microchip prior to considering them yours! - Let shelter and vet staff know the pet is owned by someone — or was a household pet at some point. There are differences between indoor pets and outdoor pets, especially cats. Indoor cats, especially declawed ones, are not particularly suited for outdoor life. When shelter or vet staff find a microchip in any of these animals, it can let them know these animals were at one point mostly indoors. Source: Todorean-Gabriel/Shutterstock.com Microchips CANNOT … - Track your pet. Microchips don’t use GPS to find your pet’s location. They simply store limited amounts of information. When people ask vets “What is a microchip for dogs,” they typically assume it means they can track their pet. - Tell you where your pet has been. Though the shelter or vet who scans your pet’s microchip can contact you and give you their current location, the microchip can’t say in what locations the pet has been. You can estimate your pet’s length of travel based on where your pet was found, the location of the shelter in comparison to where you live or where you last saw your pet. What Is a Microchip for Dogs Anyway? Find Out in Our Guide - Always be shared between registries. Microchips are maintained by private companies. Unfortunately, not every company shares its data with other microchipping agencies. This means if the vet office you microchipped your pet with uses a different company than the place it’s brought to, they might not get a reading with your information. However, many companies have realized the danger this puts pet owners in, and more companies are agreeing to share their data. Many vet offices and shelters now have scanners that can read information from multiple microchipping agencies. - Automatically update your information. When your pet is microchipped, you will need to keep the information stored in it up to date. Simply create an account with the microchipping agency your pet’s microchip is with and update your phone and address each time you get a new one. That will ensure it stays as accurate as possible! Source: Lucky Business/Shutterstock.com What Else Can I Do to Keep My Dog Safe? Using a pet tracker, which is a GPS located in a special tag or incorporated into a collar, can be an additional tool you use to keep your dog safe. This is what many people are referring to when they talk about tracking animals. Using a paired app on your phone, you can see where your pet is in real time, plus a history of where it’s been. Of course, this means you have to be receiving quality phone service, so, for dogs who go missing in remote areas, it might not be the best option. Above all, a quality dog tag can do wonders for keeping your pet safe. We have a variety of dog tags, including our mountain dog tag perfect for the dog who conquers every mountain with you, and they are available for customization. Include your dog’s name, your contact information and whether they’re microchipped or you have a pet tracker. No matter what, you should use every avenue available to make it easier to find your pet in the event they are lost.