National Check the Chip Day: Your Annual Reminder From mChip.org

August 15 is National Check the Chip Day. The American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association sponsor it to remind pet owners of something easy to forget: a microchip can only bring a lost pet home if the registration behind it is accurate.

When a shelter or vet scans a found pet, the chip gives them a number. The number leads them to the registration, and the registration leads them to you. If your phone number or address has changed since you registered, that last step fails.

How our reminder works

Every year on August 15, mChip.org emails registered owners a reminder to check their pet's registration and make sure the information is up to date. The email lists the pets registered to your account and links straight to it, so checking takes a minute.

When you get it, review:

• Your phone number and email. These are how a shelter or vet will reach you.
• Your address. Update it if you've moved.
• Your emergency contact. Make sure they're still a good person to call if you can't be reached.
• Your pet's details. Name, description, and anything else that would help someone confirm they've found the right pet.

If everything is still correct, there's nothing else to do. If something has changed, update it in your account right away. You don't need to wait for August 15 to do this. Any time you move or change your phone number, update your pet's record too.

Who receives it

The reminder goes to owners whose registration is at least six months old. If you registered recently, you just entered your details, and a reminder a few weeks later wouldn't be much use.

That means if you registered this year after February 15, you won't receive a reminder until next year's Check the Chip Day.

Not registered yet?

If your pet is microchipped but the chip isn't registered, it can't help them get home. Register your pet's microchip with mChip.org, and you'll be included in future Check the Chip Day reminders.