Learn About Microchips

Checking if a chip is registered Enter the chip's ID number into the free AAHA Universal Microchip Lookup Tool, which searches across participating registries and reports back where — if anywhere — the chip has a record. It's the same first step vets and shelters use. Choosing a registry Look for a registry that participates in the AAHA Universal Lookup Tool, charges a fee model you're comfortable with long-term, lets you edit your information easily, and supports transferring the registration if you rehome the pet. Fixing a record Contact the registry that holds the record, not the vet or the chip manufacturer — most let you edit contact information directly through an account you log into. How to register a chip Find the chip's ID number, pick a registry, create an account, enter your and your pet's information, and pay any fee the registry charges — the whole process usually takes a few minutes once you have the number in hand. Is registration free? It depends on the registry — some offer free basic registration, others charge a one-time fee, and a few run subscriptions. There's no single industry-wide price, so it's worth checking before assuming either way. Privacy and your record A microchip record isn't publicly searchable by name or address — it only surfaces to whoever scans the physical chip and looks the number up. What that person sees next varies by registry; some share the owner's contact info outright. On mChip.org, a finder's info is always shared with you, and yours is only shared with a finder once you've flagged the pet as missing. Deletion practices vary by registry, so check with yours directly. Registering a chip you didn't buy Yes. Registries generally don't care who implanted the chip or where it came from — only the ID number and accurate owner information matter. If the chip is still unregistered you can register it directly; if a breeder, shelter, or previous owner already registered it, they transfer it to you instead. Transferring registration Most registries provide a way for the current registered owner to transfer the registration to a new owner. What goes on a record At minimum, a registry needs your name, phone number, email, and address, plus a basic description of your pet. Emergency contacts and vet information are common optional extras that make a record more useful in specific situations. What a registry does A microchip registry is a database that links a chip's ID number to an owner's contact information, so a vet or shelter that scans a lost pet can find out who to call. Registries are separate from chip manufacturers and from each other. Why current records matter A microchip only works if the contact information behind it is accurate — a stale record is a dead end for reunion by microchip. An out-of-date phone number or address is one of the most common reasons a chipped pet doesn't get home. Registration vs. implantation Implanting a chip is a quick medical procedure that gives a pet an ID number; registration is the separate step of attaching your contact information to that number in a database. Skipping registration leaves the chip functionally useless.

What to do first Get the animal somewhere safe, check for a collar and tags, and get it scanned for a microchip at any vet clinic, shelter, or animal-control office — scanning is free and takes a minute. Report the found pet to your local shelter even if you plan to keep it while you search. If the pet has a tag Read every tag before anything else. A phone number means you can call the owner right now; a rabies or licence tag carries a traceable number even without a name; and a registry tag has an ID you can look up yourself. A collar is the fastest route home there is. Where to get a pet scanned Any veterinary clinic, animal shelter, or animal-control office should be able to scan a found pet for a microchip, free and without an appointment. Ask for a universal scanner, ask them to scan the whole body, and ask them to scan more than once — no scanner detects every chip on every pass. Looking up a chip number Enter the number into the free AAHA Universal Microchip Lookup Tool, which searches participating registries and tells you which one holds the record. You won't be given the owner's phone number — the registry contacts the owner for you, so the step that matters is filing a found report with your details. When the chip is a dead end A chip with no record, or a record with a dead phone number, is common and isn't the end of the search. Contact the chip's manufacturer, file a found report with your local shelter and animal-control office, and search lost-pet listings — most reunions happen through the shelter, not the chip. What a shelter does A shelter scans every animal at intake, looks the number up, and contacts whoever the record names. Meanwhile a stray hold period runs — a legally required window, commonly a few days to a week, during which the animal must be kept so the owner can reclaim it. Many states hold an identified animal longer. Keep, shelter, or post? It isn't a choice between three options — file a found report with your local shelter no matter what, because that's where owners look. Where the animal actually sleeps is a separate decision, and you can usually keep it with you while the search runs.

Updating your contact info Sign in to your mChip.org account and edit the contact details on a chip's record directly — changes take effect immediately, so a scan reflects them right away.