Your beloved pet has disappeared, now what? You comb the neighborhood and put up posters hoping to find your pet. Your pet was wearing a collar, but what if he loses his collar or tags?
 
Every year, more than 10 million pets are lost. And according to the American Humane Association, only about 17% of lost dogs and 2% of lost cats ever find their owners. Nearly 20 million pets are euthanized each year because their owners cannot be located. If your pet is microchipped his chances of being returned to you are even greater.
 
What are microchips?
Microchipping is a permanent way to identify your pet. There are countless stories of pets being reunited with their owners after being lost for years, thanks to microchipping. A microchip used with pet  id tags dramatically increases the chances of your pet being returned home after being lost.
 
Microchips are the size of a grain of rice and are implanted under your pet’s skin. Because the chip is under the skin, it cannot be lost like traditional pet id tags can. Each microchip has a unique number that is used to identify your pet in the event that your pet is lost. They never need to be replaced as they have no power source and no moving parts. Each chip has a lifespan of about 75 years, so it will cover your pet for his lifetime.
 
Each microchip is uniquely numbered. After being read by a scanner, your pet’s microchip number will be looked up in the database to which it is registered. The database will contain information about you and your pet, including your address, phone number and any special needs your pet might have.
 
Is microchipping expensive?
When you consider its benefits, the cost of microchipping is well worth the small price you pay. There are two major companies that make microchips, HomeAgain and AVID, and both are sold by PetSupplies4Less.com. If you prefer to have your veterinarian microchip your pet, most charge around $45 to implant a microchip. Then, a fee of $15 will get you and your pet registered in the national database.