Microchip Registration: Navigating the Process for Optimal Pet Security

As a pet parent, you might have heard about the microchipping process, given that pet microchipping is a mandatory process for pets in Dubai and the UAE. That leads to the question of what exactly is a pet microchip, and why is it so important?

A pet microchip is a small, non-electrical device that gives your pet a unique identity, ensuring they can be easily identified if they get lost or mistaken for another pet. It’s a safety measure that brings peace of mind to pet owners, knowing their furry friend is secure. However, to microchip and register your pet and register your pet are two different things, and it is an important difference. Here’s everything you need to know about microchipping and its benefits.

What is a Pet Microchip?

A pet microchip is a tiny, battery-free device implanted under your pet’s skin to provide permanent identification. These chips use RFID (radio-frequency identification transponder) technology, meaning they don’t require power or maintenance. They’re about the size of a grain of rice and are inserted through a procedure like a routine injection, making it a simple and painless process for your pet.

While collars and tags are helpful, they can be easily removed or lost. A microchip, however, stays securely under your pet’s skin, and its data can be accessed by veterinarians, shelters, and animal hospitals to confirm ownership.

Microchips are also used as proof of identity. For example, pet parents in the UAE must microchip their pet and register it with their local municipality; failing to do so is a punishable offense. Microchips are also an import/export requirement for pet travel, and you need to microchip your pet if you plan on pet travel to or from Dubai. 

Why is a Pet Microchip Essential?

• Safety & Security: A microchip helps your pet stay secure, as there is a significantly higher chance of your pet being reunited with you after being lost if they have a microchip implanted in them. They also help you in case your pet gets lost, runs away, or is mixed up with another similar looking pet. 
• Lifetime Protection: Unlike collars or tracking devices, microchips do not require any maintenance during their use, meaning they offer a lifetime protection to your pet.  
• Quick & Easy to Apply: A pet microchip can be implanted by your vet with the same procedure as a regular vaccination, meaning it is a quick and easy way of ensuring your pet is identifiable as yours. 
• Acts as a Legal Proof: If your pet is ever lost or your ownership of your pet is contested, a pet microchip can help verify your ownership and act as legal proof that your dog is truly yours, thanks to your details being maintained in a database against the microchip’s unique identification number.

How Does a Pet Microchip Work?

Despite its growing popularity, there are misconceptions about how pet microchips work. To help you differentiate fiction from fact, here are a few important pieces of information regarding microchips and their functioning. 

• What’s Stored on a Microchip - A microchip contains only a Unique Identification Number (UIN). This number is registered in a pet recovery database, where your contact information is stored. It does not hold your personal details directly.
• Is It a GPS Tracker? - No, microchips don’t have GPS tracking capabilities. They only help identify your pet when scanned with a microchip reader.
• Choosing the Right Microchip - If you’re planning to travel internationally with your pet, opt for an ISO 11784/11785 microchip. These are standardized and accepted worldwide, easing customs processes during import or export.
• Keeping Information Updated - After registering your pet’s microchip, ensure your contact details in the database are updated regularly. You can also include a trusted person’s contact information for added security in case of emergencies.

Why Microchipping Matters

Microchips are an affordable, reliable, and safe way to protect your pet. They act like a digital safety net, ensuring your pet’s identity is secure and providing peace of mind for you. For international travel, they also double as essential ID proof.

Our pets are like babies, and since they don’t know what’s best for them all the time, it is our job as pet parents to make sure they are safe and always protected. A pet microchip goes a long way towards ensuring this, giving you a safety net & helping your peace of mind while also functioning as an ID proof which is used during international pet travel. 

So long as you remember to register your pet’s microchip with a registry of your choice to enjoy all the safety benefits, you should be good to go. With this simple precaution, you can safeguard your pet’s future and ensure they always find their way back to you.