National Microchip Your Pet Month in St. Louis

You May is National Microchip Your Pet Month, a perfect time to highlight why microchipping is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your furry (and even feathery) family members. Every year, millions of pets are lost. Those with microchips have a significantly higher chance of being reunited with their families. Let’s explore why microchipping matters and how you can take advantage of special deals this month to do it for less!

Why Microchipping Is Essential

Losing a pet is every owner’s nightmare. Pets can slip out of the house, bolt during a thunderstorm, or even be stolen. Collars and ID tags are helpful, but they can fall off or be removed. Microchips, on the other hand, are a permanent, tamper-proof form of identification that stays with your pet for life.

A microchip is a tiny device, about the size of a grain of rice, implanted just under your pet’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades. Each chip contains a unique identification number, which is linked to contact information in a secure registry. When a lost pet is found, fire stations, animal shelters, and veterinarians can scan the microchip and quickly contact the pet owner.

Microchipping is not just for dogs and cats-birds and most other pets can benefit as well. It’s a one-time procedure that provides lifelong protection, giving you peace of mind that your pet has a much greater chance of making it home if lost.

The Microchipping Process

The process is quick, simple, and similar to a routine vaccination. It doesn’t require anesthesia, and most pets experience only brief, minor discomfort. The photo to the right shows how small a pet microchip is compared to a key ring.

Plus, once the chip is in place, there’s no ongoing maintenance required. The only thing you need to do is keep your contact information up to date in the microchip registry.

Having worked in vet med, I can assure you that microchipping has many more benefits than it does risk. I’ve never seen a pet have a reaction to the microchip but have seen many pets reunited because of their chip.

Benefits Beyond Reunification

• Permanent Identification: Unlike collars and tags, microchips can’t be lost or tampered with

• Affordable and Lasting: It’s a one-time cost for a lifetime of security

• Supports Community Safety: Microchipping helps shelters and animal control quickly identify lost pets, reducing the number of strays in the shelter needing to find new homes

Microchip Your Pet for Less During Microchip Your Pet Month

May is the best time to act, as many clinics, shelters, and animal organizations offer discounted or even free microchipping services in honor of National Microchip Your Pet Month. For example, some shelters are running $20 microchip specials this month, and others are offering free microchips at community clinics, sometimes bundled with low-cost vaccinations. Check with your local animal shelter, veterinary office, or county animal control for upcoming microchip events and specials.

National Microchip Your Pet Month in St. Louis

In St. Louis, check out the following resources to have your pet chipped for less.

Microchipping Best Practices

After microchipping, make sure to register your pet’s chip with your current contact information. The chip is usually assigned to the veterinary clinic or rescue who implants it.  Therefore, you have to re-register it to your contact information so you can receive the call directly if your pet is ever found.

Then, ask your vet to scan your pet’s chip at annual checkups to ensure it’s working properly. Sometimes chips migrate, so it’s good to know that your pet’s chip is in the right place. And, you should ensure it’s functioning properly.

Remember, microchips are not GPS trackers-they only work when scanned by a shelter or vet so keep your pet’s collar and ID tags on whenever you’re out and about. And, prevent pet loss at all times so you never have to rely on the microchip or collars.

The Best Care for St. Louis Pets

This May, take advantage of Microchip Your Pet Month to give your pet the best chance of finding their way home. You may even get a price that’s easier on your wallet. A tiny chip can make a world of difference for your beloved companion.

Since 1997, 4-Legged Kids, Inc. has grown into the largest in-home pet care company servicing large areas of St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County. We personalize our award-winning dog walking and pet sitting services to meet your and your pets’ needs, species, age, temperament, and more! Call 636-405-0400 or email ask@4leggedkids.com to register.

If you are outside of our service area, visit Pet Sitters International or the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters. Use their pet sitter locators to find a pro pet sitter or dog walker near you.

Existing clients, please request services here.