Most pet owners buy their dogs and cats collars and add a name tag with the pet’s name and their phone number. These are great but outdated. They can easily break, fall off, or even the name or phone number can wear off the tag over time. The microchip is permanent and can’t be separated from the pet.
If your dog or cat is lost or stolen, the chip and its registration is definitive proof of ownership. This is particularly helpful in the case of stolen pets when ownership might be in dispute.
A chip greatly increases the likelihood that your pet will be returned to you if they are lost. Several recent studies show that cats with microchips are 20 times more likely to be returned to their owner and chipped dogs are returned 2.5 more than unchipped dogs. That’s a significant difference and with over 10 million pets being lost each year, you want to do everything you can to ensure your pet finds its way back to your home.
Finally, microchips last a lifetime. Once implanted, you don’t have to worry about them, although it is a good idea to have your vet scan your pet each year to guard against any malfunction.