A collar and identification tag help someone identify a missing pet, but both are easily lost or damaged.
Vets, shelters and SPCA inspectors regularly receive pets that appear well cared for but have no collar, tag or way to trace their owners.
Check the Chip Day takes place on 15 August. The annual awareness day reminds pet owners to microchip their animals and keep their contact details updated.
South Africa has no national legislation requiring owners to microchip their pets. For responsible pet owners, though, permanent identification provides an added layer of protection.
How pet microchips work
A vet injects a microchip under the skin between the pet’s shoulder blades.
The chip is about the size of a grain of rice. The procedure takes a few seconds and causes little discomfort.
Each microchip contains a unique identification number. A vet or animal shelter reads this number with a microchip scanner.
The number is registered on a database such as Identipet or Virbac BackHome, together with the owner’s contact information.
What happens when a microchipped pet goes missing?
When someone brings a lost pet to a vet or shelter, staff scan the animal for a microchip.
The unique number links to the owner’s information on the registration database. Staff then use those details to contact the family.
The chip does not contain the owner’s full information. It provides the number used to find the registered details.
Update your microchip details
A microchip only works when the information linked to it is correct.
Pet owners remain responsible for updating their telephone number, address and other contact information after any change.
Log in to the relevant registration database to review or update your details. Contact its helpline if you need assistance.
Ask your vet to scan the chip during a routine visit. This confirms that the chip is still readable and checks which number is registered.
Why should you microchip your pet?
Collars break, tags fade and both become separated from an animal.
A microchip provides a permanent form of identification and gives shelters or vets a way to trace a missing pet’s owner.
Other reasons include:
• Proof of ownership: A registered microchip provides supporting proof during disputes involving a stolen or resold pet.
• Quick procedure: Implanting the chip takes only a few seconds.
• Affordable identification: The supplied price range is between R350 and R600. Some mobile clinics charge around R250 or offer the service free.
• Long-term use: Microchips are biocompatible and coated to limit movement under the skin, although movement is possible in rare cases.
How many South African pets are microchipped?
Around 21% of dogs and 22% of cats in South Africa are microchipped.
Fewer than 10% of lost pets arriving at animal facilities have any form of identification.
The supplied reunion figures show a clear difference between microchipped and unchipped pets.
Among dogs, 52.2% of microchipped animals are returned to their owners, compared with 21.9% of dogs without chips.
For cats, 38.5% of microchipped animals are reunited with their families. The figure falls to 1.8% among cats without microchips.
Check your pet’s chip on 15 August
Pet owners do not microchip their animals because they expect them to disappear. They do so because accidents happen and collars are not always enough.
Use Check the Chip Day to confirm that your pet has a readable microchip and that the linked contact details are current.
A few minutes spent checking the registration might make the difference if your pet ever goes missing.
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