New Microchip Registry - just FYI

NO. The dog's owners info is NOT VISIBLE TO ANYONE.

There are lots of different companies, some only register their own chips, some will register anyones. Some charge a single lifetime fee, others need your money each and every year to renew.

They key to it all is if they put the registration info in the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) database.

The AAHA database is the first check when any animal hospital, vet, or law enforcement agency scans a lost or injured pet. It is key that whatever service you use puts your pet's info into the AAHA database.

When a pet is scanned, the system does NOT throw out your personal info. It tells them who's chip it is (what company) they email the chip number to the company, the company emails you, and then you are reunited with your lost pet.

NEVER EVER is someone scanning your pet given your name or address or email.

I did a lot of research on this. We had 2 dogs who were chipped before we got them (from 2 different companies), and a third that didn't have a chip. I had to register the chips in the 2, and get a third chip for #3. It was important to me that:
Registration in the AAHA database.
Lifetime single fee registration.
All three registered with the same company.

Our local vet uses homagain. Annual fee. Only registers their own chips. Scratch them.

I "Think" I settled on petkey, coulda been another. again, any who met my 3 criteria would be fine. I registered the 2 who were all ready chipped (after taking them to my vet and verifying with a scan that the numbers on my paperwork matched the actual dogs) and purchased a chip from Petkey (I think?) They sent it to me. I didn't have the (@#$%^) to insert it myself, our vet did it for a couple bucks.

So now I have one account with one company. A single login. one place to go to change if I change my email or location. All three listed in the AAHA database for one small fee. Forever.

Not pushing any individual service, just trying to be helpful and present some facts. I do highly recommend everyone chip and register their pets.
2 of ours are huskies. They love to run, and I live in fear that they will get away one day and we won't catch them and if we are travelling, they won't know where to find us. They chips help me feel better.

raindove wrote:
rockhillmanor -- I'm so sorry. I did not realize that the owner's information is visible to the general public. I agree with you.
I just thought that it would be a local number to call for people in AZ.

I do know that many, many people never register the microchip when they acquire a dog that is already chipped.

And as far as I know, an owner has to pay to register the info or transfer ownership.

X2

The problem I keep running into with rescues is that you can't change the chip info unless you have the password/original owner info. The first registration if free with the chip. They usually charge for any changes after that.

And of course that with the existing chip it's obvious if the dogs in a shelter being adopted, the original owner has not registered it or its outdated. Otherwise he would have found his original owner and not be in the shelter.

We re chip the dogs and put our info on it. That way we 'know' it is registered. Both chips are readable and any reputable shelter/vet will try both numbers to find the owner.

What do the rest of you do with a chipped rescue before you adopt it out?

rockhillmanor -- I'm so sorry. I did not realize that the owner's information is visible to the general public. I agree with you.
I just thought that it would be a local number to call for people in AZ. I do know that many, many people never register the microchip when they acquire a dog that is already chipped. And as far as I know, an owner has to pay to register the info or transfer ownership.

I'm not quite sure why one would register their 'already registered' chip with this company?

When you buy a chip it is registered with that company with all your info. Lost dog, read the chip, owner info on file.

This website shows this:

"Found A Lost Pet?
Search For Microchip"

People that 'find pets' do not have readers. They take the dog to the vet or shelter and 'they' scan the dog and up comes the dogs info.

So I don't see the need to put your dogs micro chip number on a public website where anyone joining the site can get personal information. :?

It's like anything else -- only as good as the integrity of the people who are running the show.

We have our dog chipped with Homeagain. I wish they would all get together and have one register. I kind of wonder if any of them work. I worry more about the over zealous humane society kidnapping pedigree dogs and making a profit. I had to actually threaten a lawsuit against them before they dropped charges and returned my dog. Big money in selling pedigree dogs both private and the humane society if they can get away with it. I'm still chuckling about the elephant the humane society stole from the circus. It died and cost them 9 million. They exposed our dog to spinal meningitus and he almost died.