FAQ

A microchip is a Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID). It is the size of a grain of rice and stores a sequence of numbers. This sequence of numbers, when scanned with a microchip reader, is associated with the pet owner’s information that is stored in our secure pet registry database.

Microchipping is most commonly used for household pets such as dogs and cats but can also be used on horses, ferrets, and most other mammals.

A veterinarian implants the microchip under the skin of the animal right over the shoulder blades. The chip should come to rest in the cavity between the blades of the animal. There is no guarantee that the chip will stay in place. In most cases the chip will stay in place, but in a small number of cases, the chip can migrate for some unknown reason.

Pets Home Today® will replace the chip, but that is the limit to which Pets Home Today® will hold itself responsible. When a reader or scanner is turned on and presented in the area of the implant site, the scanner picks up the 10 alphanumeric or ISO 15-digit code on the display. This is your pet’s positive ID number and coupled with the stainless collar tag makes for one of the best tracking systems for your animal.

Pet microchips are Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) that are for identification purposes only. The microchip is not a GPS. Therefore, if your animal is lost, we cannot track its location. However, we include a stainless steel collar tag with every microchip that has our toll free phone number along with a reference number that is associated with your pet’s microchip registration. If you have not received a collar tag, please contact the breeder, veterinary office, or humane society that microchipped your pet.

Along with your current contact information (name, address, phone numbers, and email address), we require the following:

• An Emergency Contact. In the event that we cannot reach you, we can reach out to someone you trust such as a neighbor or local relative for the secure care of your pet.
• Veterinary Information. In the event that we cannot reach you and your emergency contact, we will contact the veterinary clinic that cares for your animal for further instructions.
• Pet Details. We require the species, breed, markings, date of birth, gender, name, health conditions, as well as other notable registrations (CKC, AKC).
• Collar Tag Number. When your pet is microchipped, it is up to the breeder or clinic to give you a silver collar tag that we have provided them. This tag is then associated with your pet’s microchip registration and is very useful for a faster reunion between yourself and your pet.

If your pet has gone missing, fill out a report form. Alternatively, please call our toll free number (1-855-373-8943) and provide us with your pet’s microchip number or collar tag number. We will put a red flag in our database under that microchip number.

When your pet has been found with its collar tag, the finder usually calls the phone number on the tag, and we provide them with the owner’s phone number so the pet and owner can be reunited. If your pet is lost without its collar tag and ends up at an animal control center anywhere in North America, the officer scans the pet for a microchip. They would then call us, and we would provide them with the owner’s phone number.

In either case, Pets Home Today® will assist in the reunification of the pet and their owner.
We understand this is a stressful time. The more people who know your pet is missing, the greater chances your pet will find its way home. Therefore, we highly recommend you notify your local animal control, Humane Societies, vet clinics, etc. that your pet has gone missing.

There are several ways to update your contact information in our database. Every method requires that you have your pet’s microchip number.

• Visit our website at www.petshometoday.com
• Email us at sales@petshometoday.com
• Call us toll free at 1-855-373-8943

If the animal is wearing a small silver collar tag with our company’s name and phone number, please fill out a report form. Alternatively, please call us at 1-855-373-8943 and we will be happy to assist you further.

If the animal is not wearing an identification tag, please call your local shelter or vet clinic for further instructions. They will be able to scan the animal for a microchip and contact the corresponding microchip database to arrange for the reunion of the pet and its owner.

Please contact the embassy of the country you are travelling to and verify which microchip they require for entry to their country. Most countries require that your pet be microchipped with an ISO chip.

You can also visit www.bringfido.com/travel/international for more info on travelling with your pet to a specific country.

Pet microchipping is a simple procedure that is often performed during an animal’s surgery. The microchip is the size of a grain of rice and is inserted with a needle and gentle pressure on the loose skin located between the animal’s shoulder blades. It is recommended that this procedure be performed by a licensed veterinary technician or an experienced breeder.

When your pet has been scanned for a microchip, the only information that appears on the scanner is the 10-15-digit microchip number. Your contact information is stored on our secure database and is only accessible by Pets Home Today® staff members. When an animal professional calls us with a found pet, they provide us with the microchip number and we provide them with the owner’s name and phone number.

Our staff will than follow up to make sure your pet has made it home safely.

Yes. Collars and tags are easily removed or broken, and a tattoo can fade and stretch and become illegible over time. Microchipping is the only permanent method for pet identification.

Yes. Cats often stray from home and usually don’t wear a collar. Therefore, the only reliable way to make sure your cat finds its way back home is with the use of a microchip.

Most municipalities require you to purchase a yearly licence. This is a local registration only. However, a microchip is a global and permanent registration. We highly recommend having both.

As of August 1, 2005, only an NCAC-approved FDX B ISO microchip can be registered with the AKC. Pets Home Today® has NCAC-approved FDX B ISO microchips. Ask your veterinary for an ISO microchip.

In order to change ownership details in our database, we require the following:

A signed document from the previous owner stating that they are transferring ownership to you. This document must include the microchip number; the previous owner’s name and signature; the new owner’s name, address, phone number; and an emergency contact name and phone number. Fill out our Ownership Request Form and return via email or fax.

If this is not possible, please contact us at sales@petshometoday.com and we will be happy to assist you further.