National Check the Chip Day
Microchips greatly increase the chances that pets will be reunited with their families if they are lost or stolen…but a microchip only works if its registration information is accurate.
To remind pet owners to have their pets microchipped and to keep the registration information up-to-date, AVMA and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) joined together to create Check the Chip Day. With support from HomeAgain, the AVMA develops materials to promote the event.
Are you a pet owner?
Microchips reunite pets with families. Check the registration information for your pet's microchip once a year on Check the Chip Day.
- If your pet isn’t already microchipped, make an appointment with your veterinarian now for microchipping. Register your pets chip immediately with the manufacturer, making sure all of your contact information is included.
- Ask your veterinarian to scan the microchip during your pet's annual wellness exam every year.
- Each year on Check the Chip Day, check your pet's microchip registration information and update it if it's incomplete or no longer correct.
Updating your pet's microchip registration
To update your pet's registration, you’ll need your pet's microchip number. If you haven’t already created an account with the manufacturer, you’ll need to do that as well. Make sure that all of the information is correct, especially your phone number(s) and address.
There are many databases that allow you to register your pet's microchip, but the one that really counts—the one that animal shelters and veterinarians will search—is the database maintained by the manufacturer of your pet's microchip. You can quickly search the registries of most microchip manufacturers using the universal lookup tool provided by the AAHA. There also are public microchip registries that have been linked to the AAHA tool to make it easier to find a microchip's registration.
Resources for veterinary teams
Share this microchip registration flyer with clients when you microchip their pet and when you scan the chip during checkups to make sure it continues transmitting properly. This gives owners a handy record of their pet's microchip information.
You can help pet owners understand the benefits of microchips by sending them home with the AVMA’s client brochure, available in both English and Spanish. (AVMA members enjoy pricing discounts.)
AVMA members also have access to a complete microchipping promotional toolkit with ready-to-use social media images, sample social posts, ideas for observing Check the Chip Day, and much more. Also exclusive to AVMA members: Download the microchipping infographic to share on social media, or embed in your website or blog.
Check the Chip Day video and promotional campaign made possible by a grant from HomeAgain.
