A HomeAgain microchip is a permanent pet ID. The microchip itself has no internal energy source, so it will last the life of your pet. It is read by passing a microchip scanner over the pet’s shoulder blades. The scanner emits a low radio frequency that provides the power necessary where the chip is located to transmit the microchip’s unique cat or dog ID code and positively identify the pet.
Dog and cat microchipping is a simple procedure. A veterinarian simply injects a microchip for pets, about the size of a grain of rice (12mm), beneath the surface of your pet’s skin between the shoulder blades. The process is similar to an injection and takes only a few seconds. No anesthetic is required.
If your pet gets lost and is taken to an animal shelter or veterinarian, they will scan the microchip to read its unique dog or cat ID code. This is the number used by HomeAgain to identify the pet and retrieve your contact information, which is used to contact you and reunite you with your pet.
“I don’t think it’s worth the trouble; how often do pets get lost anyway?”
- 1 in 3 pets will get lost during their lifetime
- 10 million pets get lost every year
- Without ID, 90% of lost pets never return home
- HomeAgain reunites pets with their owners every month
“My pet never gets lost—they’re either with me or locked in the house.”
Pets DO get lost, in spite of the fact that many owners don’t anticipate it. It’s far better to be safe than sorry. Here are some of the most common ways that pets can get lost:
- A handyman or contractor accidentally lets your pet out
- Your cat escapes through an open window or a broken screen
- Your dog digs a hole and escapes under a fence
- While traveling together, your pet wanders off into unfamiliar territory
- A thunderstorm or fireworks display causes your pet to panic and flee
- An emergency situation or natural disaster causes your pet to get lost in the turmoil
- Your pet is stolen
“My dog already gets too many shots…I don’t want them to get another.”
While vaccinations are necessary to protect the health of their pet, microchip implantation may be the most important “shot” your pet receives. That’s because getting lost is the #1 cause of death in pets. Reassure them that the injection is no more uncomfortable for their pet than a routine vaccination and that any discomfort will pass quickly. However, the protection provided will last for the life of their pet.
“Isn’t implanting a microchip—a foreign object—dangerous for my pet?”
Veterinarians in the U.S. have been implanting microchips in pets for over 15 years, and over six million pets have been implanted with HomeAgain alone. Properly implanting the microchip is important to ensuring it is safe, which is why the procedure is done by or under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.