Tales of Happy Reunions Boost Interest in Pet Microchipping

Microchipping involves implanting a small chip that electronically stores the guardian's or owner's contact information beneath the companion animal's skin. Lost pets are scanned for the chip at shelter facilities. There was an 11% increase in the number of dogs microchipped from 2009 to 2010, with a total of 26% of dogs in the U.S. being microchipped in 2010. Previously, microchips were more difficult to detect as each brand required a different scanner to read them. However, universal scanners have been developed to read the microchips regardless of what company made them, though this technology is still not available in many underfunded shelters.