It is said that upto 8 million animals- cats and dogs and other pets- end up in shelters every year. Out of these, only less than 2 percent of cats are ever reclaimed and the percentage for dogs is 15-20%. Fitting your pet with a pet tracking chip reduces the chances of your pet getting lost. Anyone coming across a lost pet can definitely make out that the animal is lost. By taking it to the nearest veterinarian and getting it scanned, one can find out if the animal is registered and if so, the owner details will show up immediately.

Cat tracking chips and dog tracking chips are the same, there is no difference. It is only that companies project them as separate in order to target their marketing and advertising programs. Microchips for cats might change the statistics in favor of lost cats, since upto now, more lost dogs are reunited with their owners than lost cats! A microchip for cats is implanted in much the same way as for a dog, between the shoulder blades on the back of the neck, an area which is not easily reachable for the animal while scratching.

Dog microchip companies sell their microchips online or through the veterinarian. They costs anywhere between 25 and 50 dollars and are injected into the skin at the end of a longish needle. The procedure is much like drawing blood and need not be done under anesthesia. Though they can be fitted in or implanted by anybody, it is recommended that a veterinarian does it because there is a one in a million chance that there may be complications. And also the site of implantation and the method are important.

How Does it Work?

When a lost animal is checked for a microchip implant at a shelter or at a veterinarian’s, a scanner is run over the back of the neck, the implanted chip emits a radio signal. The unique ID code of the microchip is read and conveyed to the registry. (where the microchips are registered - of course, it goes without saying that the chip, had to be registered at the registry at the time of implantation). The registry uses the unique ID number to retrieve the pet owner’s contact details, and the pet is happily reunited with its owner.

Frankly this is a facet of the best pet health insurance. Insurance is synonymous with protection and what better protection than a microchip implant complemented with a collared ID tag for your pet. For it is recommended that for a double shield of protection, a collar with a readable ID tag is also as important.

Author's Bio: 

Save This Life's innovative technology has revolutionized the microchips for dogs. The leaders of Save This Life are former rescuers who have developed a superior method of helping lost pets find their way home safely.