Microchipping provides permanent identification that significantly increases the likelihood of reuniting lost pets with their owners. Each microchip contains a unique 15-digit identification number compliant with international standards, ensuring your pet can be identified by any veterinary clinic, council pound, or animal shelter across Australia.
What is a Pet Microchip?
A microchip is a radio-frequency identification (RFID) transponder approximately the size of a grain of rice. The device is implanted beneath your pet’s skin, typically between the shoulder blades. The microchip is encased in biocompatible glass and is designed to last for your pet’s entire life.
All microchips contain a unique identification number. It is not a GPS tracking device; it is a passive device that holds no battery or internal power source. When a microchip scanner from a veterinary clinic, council pound, or animal shelter is passed over the pet’s skin, the scanner’s radio waves activate the microchip, which then transmits its unique number to the scanner’s screen.
Why is Microchipping So Important?
Microchipped pets have the single most effective form of identification to ensure a lost pet is returned home.
- Permanent Identification: Unlike collars and tags, a microchip provides a permanent ID that cannot be lost or removed.
- Proof of Ownership: A microchip registered with your details serves as legal proof that you are the pet’s owner.
- Fast Reunions: Vets and shelters across Australia scan all stray animals upon arrival. This system allows them to quickly identify the owner’s contact details and facilitate a speedy and safe reunion.
IMPORTANT: A microchip is only as good as the information linked to it. Ensure you have the correct microchip details recorded. If you move house or change your phone number, you must update your contact details with your pet registry service.
Microchip Implantation Procedure
Microchip implantation is a standardised and routine clinical procedure. The process is simple, safe, and very quick.
- The Implant: The microchip is injected under the skin using a sterile needle. The procedure is comparable to a routine vaccination and, while the needle is slightly larger, most pets show little to no reaction.
- No Anaesthetic Required: The process is so fast that no anaesthetic or sedation is needed.
- Timing: A microchip can be implanted during any standard veterinary consultation. Many owners choose to have it done at the same time as desexing surgery while their pet is already under general anaesthetic, ensuring they feel nothing at all.
- Registration: Immediately after the procedure, our clinic staff will guide you through completing the paperwork to register the microchip’s unique number with your contact details on a national pet registry.
Effectiveness of Microchipping in Pet Recovery
Having a microchip dramatically increases the chances of a pet being reunited with its owner. For cats, the presence of a microchip increases the likelihood of return by a factor of more than 12.
Pet Reclaim Rates: A Comparison of Microchipped vs. Non-Microchipped Animals (RSPCA QLD Data, 2015)
| Species | Reclaim Rate (Microchipped with Accurate Data) | Reclaim Rate (Microchipped with Data Problems) | Reclaim Rate (Not Microchipped) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dogs | 87% | 69% | 37% |
| Cats | 61% | 33% | 5% |
Microchipping Recommendations for Pet Owners
- Register Immediately and Verify: Do not delay. Ensure your pet’s microchip is registered with a licensed animal registry service on the same day it is implanted. When you receive the registration certificate, verify that every detail—your name, address, and phone numbers—is 100% correct.
- Maintain Data Hygiene: Your microchip registration is a living document. Create a recurring annual reminder to log in to your registry’s website to confirm your details are still current. Update your information immediately if you move or change your primary contact number.
- Execute the Ownership Transfer: If you must rehome your pet, you retain the responsibility to ensure the microchip ownership transfer is completed. Work proactively with the new owner to submit the required forms or complete the online process. Do not assume the new owner will handle it.
- Request an Annual Scan: During your pet’s annual Gippsland Veterinary Hospital veterinary check-up, ask the veterinary staff to perform a quick scan of the microchip. This simple action confirms the microchip is still functioning correctly and has not migrated to an unusual location.
Microchipping Legal Requirements in VIC
Under the and , microchipping is mandatory for all dogs and cats in VIC. Puppies and kittens must be microchipped before sale or transfer to a new owner. enforces these requirements within the local government area.
