Microchip Your Pet
What is a microchip?
A microchip is a safe, permanent transponder that is injected into your pet and will identify you as the pet owner.
- The microchip is injected – similar to a vaccination – into the animal’s skin between the shoulder blades. The process is painless for most animals.
- The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice.
- A microchip is not a GPS (Global Positioning System) tracking system. It is a radio-frequency identification transponder that records a unique code, which is used to contact the pet’s owner.
How does it work?
When a lost animal is brought into any shelter, it is scanned by a hand-held device that reads a unique code that identifies the owner.
Shelters and some veterinarians’ offices have microchip scanners.
Where do I get it?
Low-cost microchip and rabies vaccination clinics are held at County animal shelters every day, no appointment needed.