Each year thousands of lost and abandoned animals are taken in by shelters and humane societies across North America.  

Microchipping is a reliable, permanent, one-time procedure that helps give you peace of mind for your furry friend’s lifetime. Microchips are only effective if the microchip is registered in a database, such as PetLink, and the pet parent’s contact information is kept up to date.   

With accurate registration associated with the unique microchip number, a lost animal can be traced back to their pet parent as soon as the chip is scanned at a veterinary clinic, animal shelter or municipal animal control services.  

Did you know that the Ontario SPCA helped reunite over 700 lost animals with their families in 2023! Microchips help make many of those reunions possible!   

Here are some answers to commonly asked questions from the Ontario SPCA’s microchip provider, PetLink.  

Will the microchip wear out and need to be replaced?  

The microchip is passive, which means it does not have an internal battery. When a microchip scanner is passed over it, it is powered by the scanner and will transmit the animal’s ID number. The same microchip will last through your furry friend’s lifetime.  

Is microchipping painful for my furry friend?  

Microchip implantation is no more painful to animals than a flu shot is to a human. A PetLink microchip is as small and thin as a grain of rice and is easily implanted without anesthesia.  

Can a microchip work like a GPS?  

Microchips cannot be used as tracking devices. They are a form of identification that can be checked with a microchip scanner by a veterinarian or shelter organization.  

What happens if the implanted microchip doesn’t work?  

In the unlikely event that your PetLink microchip stops working after it is implanted, please have your veterinarian contact PetLink at petlink@petlink.net.  

It’s crucial to always keep your contact information current and up to date. Contact your microchip provider directly to update information regarding a move or change of phone number.  

*Material adapted from https://www.petlink.net/frequently-asked-questions/  

 

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