Increase Your Pet’s Chances of Coming Home with Microchipping

Why Should You Microchip Your Pet?

Microchipping is one of those things that many of us don’t think about until we need it. It’s also one of those things that’s so easy to do during a wellness visit or spay/neuter surgery that it should never be overlooked.

As you consider microchipping your pet, consider these points:

• One in three pets will become lost at some point during their life.
• The American Humane Association estimates that over ten million dogs and cats are lost or stolen in the U.S. every year.
• A study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, including 53 animal shelters across the U.S., confirmed the high rate of return of microchipped dogs and cats to their families and the importance of microchip registration. From the study:
  • Only about 22% of non-microchipped lost dogs that entered the animal shelters were reunited with their families. However, the return-to-owner rate for microchipped dogs was over 52% (a 238% increase).
  • Less than 2% of non-microchipped lost cats that entered the animal shelters were reunited with their families. The return-to-owner rate for microchipped cats was dramatically higher at over 38% (more than 2000% better).

And one more statistic that cannot be ignored:  Only 58% of microchipped animals’ microchips had been registered in a database with their pet parent’s contact information. So after your dog or cat is microchipped at our office, be sure to get registered!

Rest Easy with a HomeAgain Microchip

At Union Veterinary Clinic in Washington D.C., we only use HomeAgain microchips. Get the facts about microchipping your pet or check the HomeAgain FAQ page for answers to microchipping questions and more information.

*We utilize ISO-compliant microchips which are required for entry into many countries.