Microchipping your pet cat or dog is very important. If your pet becomes lost then you are far more likely to be reunited if he or she is microchipped. 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 subcutaneously (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 dogs is mandatory in Queensland prior to 12 weeks of age and is highly recommended for cats as well.