3 Reasons Why You Should Microchip Your Dog

There’s a lot of anxiety that comes with being a dog owner. You become more alert and you are attentive to every move of your dog because you want to make sure they’re safe. But being a dog owner also means understanding that there are things outside of your control. 

Things happen. 

Dogs jump over or dig their way under fences. Sometimes they make a great escape the second the door opens. It happens. And just like known illnesses that dogs face, while they might be inevitable at times, there are ways to prepare yourself should you face an unwanted and unexpected scenario. 

When it comes to your dog’s health, you follow through with your vet appointments and get them seen on a schedule. When it comes to your dog’s safety, you go for a trusted walking harness and leash, set up secure fences, etc.

There’s something else dog owners should be doing though when they adopt.

That’s microchipping.

What is a microchip?

Microchipping is the act of implanting an electronic chip into an animal. Each microchip contains electronic data that includes select information. This typically includes the address of the pet owner. In other cases, microchips can be used by researchers to monitor the body temperatures of livestock and more. 

Best part? It’s not painful for your pup. 

The chip is not very large and is injected under the skin using a needle. While the needle is a tad larger than standard injections call for, it’s not painful to fur babies according to vets, and has the equivalent sensation that comes from getting shots.

Why should you microchip your dog?

What concrete reasoning is there for dog parents to microchip their dogs? Here are the Top 3 reasons we’ve compiled that you can’t ignore.

• Reason #1: You’re more likely to be reunited with your dog if they get loose.
• Reason #2: You keep your dog out of unsafe situations.
• Reason #3: It provides a permanent form of identification.

Reason #1: You’re more likely to be reunited with your dog if they get loose.

This is a scary factoid coming up about dogs and microchipping. Because the reality is, some forever families don’t see the return of a pup if they get out or get lost. The American Humane Association reports an estimated 10 million dogs and cats go missing or are stolen each year. 

And of the domestic dog and cat population, veterinary experts estimate that only 5 to 8 percent of animals (dogs, cats, and horses) are microchipped in the United States.

According to Linwood Pet Hospital, “A study of more than 7,700 stray animals at animal shelters found that dogs without microchips were returned to their owners 21.9 percent of the time, while microchipped dogs were returned 52.2 percent of the time.”

Reason #2: You keep your dog out of unsafe situations.

There’s no guarantee of what kind of shelter dogs will end up at if they’re kenneled after being loose. In other words, you can’t guarantee your dog’s safety in a shelter unless it is a no-kill shelter. If your dog has a microchip, that will be the first order of business that shelters and organizations will handle. They’ll contact the owner using the information logged into the microchip.

Reason #3: It provides a permanent form of identification.

When your dog or pet is microchipped, think of it as a second collar with all the information on the tags. Even if your dog is microchipped, you should make sure your fur baby has a collar and tag with the necessary information so that it’s apparent at first encounter the dog has a family looking for them.

If you’re considering getting your dog microchipped, which we highly recommend, you can visit a veterinarian clinic. At times, you’ll also see shelters and events hosting microchipping services. Keep an eye out at local clinics and pet stores for information!

For more doggie photos and pup-related fun, follow us on Instagram at @joyrideharness. And for a more detailed blog post about finding the best size dog harness for your pup, check out this blog post!