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Pet Microchip

Order a Pet Microchip for your Pet

Why should you microchip your pet?
Whether you travel or not, identifying your pet is a responsibility of any pet owner. Did you know that 80% of pets who are not micro chipped and are separated from their owners are NEVER reunited with their owners? It is so easy to avoid that happening with your pet. A visit to your veterinarian and a painless insertion is all it takes to help ensure that your pet can always be identified and returned to you. Importantly, once the microchip is inserted, you need to register the microchip with the manufacturer. Your contact information will be available to the agency who finds your pet and scans the microchip.

The microchip is a small device about the size of a grain of rice. It is inserted into the dog or cat in the area of the shoulder.

The microchip contains only a number. If the pet is lost the animal shelter can scan the dog or cat and see the number. If your pet has been registered you will then be contacted to return your pet. However, it is essential that you keep your contact information up to date.

If you are traveling to an EU Country and many other countries in the world, a cat or dog microchip is MANDATORY as the immigration officers use it to compare the pet they are scanning to the veterinary documents you have presented.

INSIDE the United States, the Home Again microchip by Destron or the Avid Microchip in either the nine digit encrypted verions or the Avid EURO 10 digit can be read by any shelter or veterinarian that has an appropriate scanner.

If you are traveling to an EU country and your pet has the nine digit microchip, your pet will need more than one microchip or you will need to carry your own scanner. In Europe, the standard pet microchip meets ISO standard 11784/17785 and is a 15 digit microchip operating at 134.2 kHz.

There are three commonly used types of microchips available from several different manufacturers and not all immigration offices in the various countries can read all three.

PETS WHO REMAIN IN THE USA: There are 3 different types of microchips that are appropriate for pets that will remain in the US. The most logical is the 15 digit ISO microchip as it is the world standard, and scanners for this type of chip are available at most shelters across the US. The Avid 9 digit encrypted chip or the Avid Euro Chip with 10 digits or HomeAgain chips that all operate at 125 khz or 128 kHz are also an option, however, if you travel with your pet outside of the US, you will need to carry a scanner with you.

PETS TRAVELING TO AN EU COUNTRY: If you are traveling to an EU Country then you want the 15 digit chip which meets ISO standards 11784/11785 134.2 kHz FECAVA. We recommend the Datamars microchip. CLICK HERE for more information. This microchip includes FREE registration in a database under the name of Pet Link. (www.petlink.org)

PETS TRAVELING IN EUROPE AND LIVING IN EUROPE: If you are living in Europe or traveling throughout Europe then you should use a microchip which meets ISO 11784, which is a 15 digit chip at 134.2 khz. CLICK HERE for more information.

PETS TRAVELING TO OTHER COUNTRIES: For travel to all countries you should use ISO 15 digit microchip that meets ISO standards 11784. This microchip is leading the way to be the world standard. We stock this microchip in our store, www.pettravelstore.com.

REGISTERING YOUR CHIP: The Microchip only contains a number. If your pet is lost it will be impossible for the agency who finds your pet to contact you unless you have registered the pet and the microchip number. You can register the microchip number with the company who made it or an independent company such as www.help4pets.com.

In addition to the microchip, your pet should have a pet tag on its collar with your cell phone number, the microchip number and THE NAME OF THE MANUFACTURER OF THE CHIP.

The identification number contained in the microchip must appear on all veterinary and vaccination certificates.

SCANNERS - If you are traveling to Europe, the immigration people may be able to read the Home Again Chip or the Avid EuroChip (with the exception of France). However, if you are concerned then you should carry your own scanner with you. Scanners are available for purchase or rental from Pet Travel Store. CLICK HERE for details. If your pet has the 15 digit ISO microchip then it is not necessary to carry your own scanner. France requires that your pet be micro chipped with a 15 digit ISO microchip.

To buy the proper microchip, CLICK HERE.
If you are interested in the purchase or rental of a scanner, CLICK HERE.

Pet Microchip