What is a microchip and how does it work?

A microchip is a permanent method of electronic identification. The chip itself is very small – about the size of a grain of rice – and is implanted just under the skin, between the shoulder blades at the back of your pet's neck. Each chip has a unique number that is detected using a microchip scanner. The microchip number is recorded on a database registry with details about the animal and owner. Should your pet stray or become lost, vets, animal shelters and local councils can scan your pet for a microchip and contact you via the database.

It is very important to keep your contact details up to date on the database so that if you move house or change your phone number you will still be contactable in the event of your pet becoming lost/stray.

If a pet is transferred to a new owner, the new owner must ensure their contact details are recorded on the database.

Microchipping for cats and dogs is mandatory in Victoria.

Lost your pet?

If you have lost your pet, you can contact Central Animal Records to let them know. While you are there, make sure your contact details are up to date. You should also contact local animal shelters and council pounds.

If you know your pet’s microchip number, enter it into Pet Address. Pet Address is a free service that searches your pet’s microchip number across databases and allows owners to update their contact details for these databases. It is important to make sure this information is current because it is the most immediate means of contacting the owners of lost or injured pets.

What happens if your pet is handed into Progressive Vet Care?

Your pet will be immediatly scanned for a microchip, if one is found we will search and contact the owners who are registered to the microchip.

In the mean time your pet will be placed safely in one of our kennels, and will be monitored by our nursing team.

If the owner can not be contacted or a microchip is not found, we will contact Stonnington Council rangers who will organise transport to their animal shelter, where they will continue to try and contact the pet’s owners.

What else can I do to ensure my pet returns home safely?

Ensuring your pet has your contact information on their collar is a helpful way for the friendly stranger who found your pet to contact you directly. You can purchase an engraved tag with your number on it from Progressive Vet Care.

Success Story!

This young puppy escaped her home due to strong winds pushing open a backyard gate while her owners were at work.

A helpful neighbour brought her straight to our clinic, and handed him over to the our staff.

All veterinary clinics have access to microchip scanners and the database.
Our team scanned his microchip and searched the database, because her owners had kept their information updated we were able to make a quick phone call to let them know that we had their dog, and that she was safe and sound.

If she was not microchipped or the details were not kept up to date, we would call the local pound who would collect her from our clinic and they would hopefully be able to locate her home.