What are microchips and how do they work? Can they harm my pet?
a A microchip is often called “the I.D. that cannot be lost.” It is a small computer chip the size of a grain of rice that is commonly implanted in the pet near the shoulder blades. It is implanted with a special syringe and the procedure only takes a few moments. It may sting the pet momentarily, but this goes away quickly, and the benefits of having your pet microchipped far outweigh the few seconds of discomfort (the procedure is much like giving vaccinations to the animal). The chip is designed to attach itself inside the skin and it can be left in place for the rest of the animal’s life without harm. If a pet who has been implanted with a chip is found and taken to a shelter or veterinarian who has a scanner, the scanner will detect the presence of a chip and the shelter or vet can call a registry to find the owner information. It is imperative that owners of chipped animals make sure their registry information is complete and updated as needed. (The agency that microchips your pe
