National Microchipping Month: Why Microchipping Your Pet Matters

One of the simplest things you can do as a pet owner is also one of the most powerful: microchipping. It takes just a few seconds, costs less than a bag of premium kibble, and gives your pet a permanent form of identification that lasts a lifetime. June is National Microchipping Month, and here at Metro East Humane Society, we love any excuse to talk about a tool that helps keep pets and families together.

What is a Microchip?

A pet microchip is a tiny electronic chip enclosed in a glass cylinder, roughly the size of a grain of rice. It's placed just under the skin between your pet's shoulder blades using a needle, similar to a routine vaccination. There's no surgery, no anesthesia, and no recovery time. The whole process takes just a few seconds and most pets barely notice.

Each chip contains a unique identification number. When a scanner is passed over your pet, that number appears on the screen, linking back to your contact information in a pet recovery database. The chip has no battery, no moving parts, and lasts your pet's entire lifetime.

It's not GPS tracking. It won't tell you where your pet is in real time. But it is permanent, tamper-proof identification that can't fall off, fade, or get lost the way a collar and tags can. Think of it as your pet's built-in safety net.

Microchips Make Reunions Happen

A study of more than 7,700 stray animals at animal shelters, published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) and cited by the AVMA, found that microchipped dogs were returned to their owners 52.2% of the time, compared to just 21.9% for dogs without chips. For cats, the difference was even more striking. Microchipped cats were reunited with their families 38.5% of the time, compared to only 1.8% for unchipped cats, largely because so few cats wear collars or tags.

According to the American Humane Association, approximately 10 million dogs and cats are lost or found in the United States each year. A microchip increases the chances that a found pet makes it back home quickly. By the time a pet reaches Metro East Humane Society, they've typically already been through a stray hold at a local animal control facility. Even so, scanning for a microchip is one of the very first things we do at intake, because a chip with current information can still be the key to getting a pet home.

Every Pet Benefits from a Microchip

Microchipping isn't just for adventurous pets. It's for every pet. Indoor cats, senior dogs, puppies, kittens, and the calmest couch potato in the house all benefit from having permanent identification. And if you're welcoming a new pet into your home through adoption, microchipping is one of the best first steps you can take to keep them safe.

For households with multiple pets, microchipping every animal means each one carries their own unique, permanent ID which gives you peace of mind across the board.

What to Expect When You Get Your Pet Chipped

Getting your pet microchipped is quick, easy, and affordable. Your vet or a trained technician places the chip just under the skin. Most animals react no more than they would to a standard vaccination. No stitches, no downtime, and you're in and out in minutes.

The cost typically ranges from $25 to $75, depending on your veterinarian. Many shelters and rescue organizations, including Metro East Humane Society, offer microchipping at reduced rates or include it as part of the adoption process. It's a one-time investment for a lifetime of protection.

Once the chip is placed, your vet will scan it to confirm it's reading properly. From there, you'll register the chip with a pet recovery database, linking your contact information to that unique ID number.

Your Microchip Checklist

National Microchipping Month is the perfect time to make sure your pets are set up for success. Here's a simple checklist to keep on hand:

• Get your pet microchipped if they aren't already. It's quick, affordable, and available right here at MEHS.

• Have your vet scan the chip at your pet's next visit to make sure it's reading correctly.

• Check your chip registration and confirm your phone number, address, and email are current. This is also a great resource if you find a stray to help them get back home.

• Set an annual reminder to review your registration details, especially after a move, a new phone number, or any change in your household.

• Make sure everyone in your home knows the chip number and which registry it's in.

A microchip is only as good as the information behind it, so keeping your registration up to date is the easiest way to make sure it does its job when it matters most.

Get Your Pet Chipped at MEHS

Metro East Humane Society makes microchipping easy through our Drive-Thru Vaccine and Microchip Clinics, held throughout the year at our Highland location. No appointment needed - no zip code or income requirements. Just drive up, and our team will take care of the rest.

For clinic dates, pricing, and full details, visit our Vaccine and Microchip Clinic page.