Ask your cat: Is a bowl of dry food enough? Are a few treats enough? Are 437 toys, six climbing trees, three tunnels, three-quarters of your bed, and a cardboard box enough?
No.
Ask your vet, the local animal shelter, and the kind-hearted community member who finds your beloved Luna, lost and wandering (likely after she’s escaped from the unendurable nightmare of only having a full belly, 437 toys, six climbing trees, three tunnels, three-quarters of your bed, and a cardboard box): Is a microchip enough?
No.
Like Luna, you want to keep her out of the shelter and, more importantly, out of harm’s way. (Also, raise your hand if your cat is actually named Luna. You too? It’s the most popular cat name in the country.)
Whether your pet’s named Luna, Obi Wan Catnobi, the Great Catsby, Farrah Pawcett, or Æ A-12 (because you like when people have no idea how to pronounce things) you want to keep them safe, and on the previous matter, we agree with the cat: A microchip is just not enough.
Microchips Are Good, mkay?
First, let’s get this out of the way. Microchips are awesome. We’d put ‘em in our kids if that wasn’t considered “weird” or 1984-ish. The small RFID (radio frequency identification) transponder is the size of a single grain of rice and is implanted under your pet’s skin, usually between their shoulder blades. The chip has a unique ID number that is assigned to your pet and your pet only.
If Luna somehow gets separated from her 437 toys, a vet or shelter may be able to scan her and access her owner’s contact information. Which IS awesome, but…
This Isn’t Enough
Microchips simply are not enough if your pet is lost. Microchips can be helpful but are also far from foolproof. What could go wrong?
- Movement. A microchip can migrate from its original insertion point. If someone is scanning between the shoulder blades and it has migrated, they can easily miss it.
- Technology. Microchip companies use different technologies and frequencies to send signals to scanners. While there are universal scanners that work with most microchips, there’s no guarantee that the vet/shelter checking your pet has compatible technology. So even if you’ve done your due diligence, there’s no promise that the scanner being used will be able to read your pet’s microchip.
- Outdated Info. You moved; you changed your phone number. You remembered to forward your mail and give your dentist the new number (go, you!), but you didn’t update the contact information related to the chip. Add microchips to the long list of details you’ll need to update with any changes.
- Chonkiness. Ummm… Luna is a bit chonky. Fat deposits (or excess fur for our more ~insulated~ four-legged pals) over the chip can make it unreadable.
- Resources. A community member who finds your pet likely does not own a scanner (it would seem kind of sus if they did, to be honest). It’s also likely to assume that not every lost pet finder would know that scanning the microchip is even an option. Without an accompanying ID tag, they won’t know how to get in touch with you, and your pet would most likely be dropped at a local shelter.
Next time you’re at the vet, have them check the microchip to make sure it’s working correctly. And if you move or change your phone number, be sure to forward your mail, call the dentist, license your pet in your new area, and update your microchip registry.
Get Them HomeSafe™ AND Licensed
A microchip is like when you get a big fat juicy cheeseburger (or a nice kale salad for the calorie-conscious/vegetarian/vegan folks). It’s not the meat, the cheese or even the bun. It’s more like the lettuce and onion and some ketchup, maybe the thin little pickle slices. It’s good, it’s on there, and we’d miss it if it wasn’t. [Insert whatever is comparable to kale salad.]
So, while microchips are great, they may not be enough to get your pet home safely, quickly, and without burdening already-overburdened local shelters. What is enough? Turns out, it’s two things!
First: DocuPet’s HomeSafe™ program.
Your pet’s tag is their ticket home. A DocuPet profile can contain so much more information than a microchip registry. Address and phone number? More, please. You can also add alternate addresses and phone numbers, contact info for Pet Guardians if you cannot be reached, vet info, vaccination details, and even the fact that Luna eats… a lot and only pretends to be discerning, and that she is great with children but afraid of big dogs. This way, if someone finds her, they can take care of her temporarily until you arrive.
And quickly (with toy #438, of course.)
The DocuPet tag on your pet’s collar has their name and unique 8-digit HomeSafe™ code, which leads to their online profile, as well as the HomeSafe™ hotline number or your phone number (if you want). The good Samaritan who finds your pet can quickly search up your pet’s profile. using their 8-digit code, call the HomeSafe™ hotline, or call you. Again, if you choose to have your number listed, they can get in touch with you directly. If not, no biggie. Your dentist is one thing, a complete stranger is another.
If you notice Luna has escaped, you can create a Lost Pet Report with all the pertinent details. Last known address, aliases, etc. The program kicks into high gear, and we mobilize the troops. If you don’t realize your pet is missing (e.g. the pet’s in someone else’s care or they just pulled an amazing Houdini) and someone finds her, the 24/7 HomeSafe™ dispatch team is on the case. They get right to work finding your pet. How awesome is that?
But that’s not all!
Second: A pet license. Now, not every place has a pet licensing system, but if they do, you definitely need to sign up. There are so many benefits to pet licensing, not the least of which is all the important funding it provides to the amazing animal services in your area. The GOAT reason you need to license? It makes Luna’s journey home faster, smoother, and simpler. Your licensed Luna is a registered member of your community, and the kind soul who finds her can easily access all the tools to bring her home, safe and sound. And without you picking up a fine for having an unlicensed animal (just sayin’).
How It Works
So let’s play out a scenario. You order DoorDash, and Luna takes it a bit too seriously and dashes right out the door. She’s chonky, but oh lawd, she’s fast. You can’t find her, so you log into DocuPet and create a Lost Pet Report. Meanwhile, seventeen houses down, Luna is tired and curls up on a random person’s porch swing. They find her, give her a treat (she now loves them furrr-ever), and read her tag. They go to the URL/call the hotline/call you. If they search up Luna’s profile with her HomeSafe™ code, they’ll know to keep her away from that big, lovin’ Great Dane you own. And the effort you made to license her ensures that she exists on the local registries and with all the right info.
You answer the phone. It’s your dentist. Cleaning tomorrow at 8:00. Another call: It’s the DocuPet Dispatch Team. They know where Luna is. You go seventeen houses down (or meet at an agreed-upon location) to collect your pet, who doesn’t appear at all concerned and is vaguely put out to have to move from her spot. But she’s safe. She’s not at a shelter. She’s not taking space from an animal in need. And she’s going home.
As pet owners, we can imagine a number of other scenarios that are not so happy. With HomeSafe™, we thankfully don’t have to.
Let’s Eat
We’re not talking about cheeseburgers? Well. In that case, let’s take action! Make sure your pet’s microchip is working properly. Update your registry information. Get a snazzy new DocuPet ID that can reunite you with your favorite friend. License your pet. And change Luna’s name to Æ A-12 for funsies.
All but the last step will help your pet get home safe.
