The day you brought your dog home was probably one of the most exciting in your life – but it was also the most dangerous. (Your brains probably turned to mush as soon as you looked into those eyes.)
Did you change your dog’s microchip into your name? We’ve discovered a frightening number of chips won’t get your dog home.
Imagine the horror of a break in while you’re out. The thieves leave the doors open and the gate. Your terrified dog runs straight past them and out into the road. The traumatised driver takes him to the nearest emergency vet. The chain vet needs an owner to pre-approve treatment, but there’s no collar for an ID tag (you probably take it off in the house.)
They scan for a chip, it beeps, but when they type in the number there are no records – or just a number for a confused old lady who says, thankfully, all her dogs are safe. Spooked, she goes and checks. Later that night she may ponder if that call was about one of the pups she bred many years ago.
In that scenario, you would never find out what happened to your dog. You may never get closure, was he stolen that night? Did he die alone and anonymous? Or was he taken to the pound and rehomed as no one knew he had an owner who loved him?
Since we launched Pet Database, we’ve discovered 30% of dogs don’t have any contact details stored on the 17 Defra approved databases.
Many others are incorrectly listed as still being owned by the person who bred them.
How can this happen?
We suspect a huge proportion of loving owners will have put that important piece of paper into a drawer with all the other paperwork the breeder gave them. They had no reason to think of microchips or databases – unless, that is, their pet was lost or stolen.
Why do some dogs have no data? Not even the breeder?
Even though it’s meant to be the law, some breeders never list their details on the databases. They may tell themselves it is a kindness to pay to implant the chip and pass the piece of paper over to the new keeper, so they won’t be charged to change the keepership into their name.
(Cynically, some may think not appearing on the chip records would stop the local council proving they bred the dog.)
PetDatabase.com has already helped many very grateful owners who were horrified to discover their dog’s chip had until then been completely unhelpful.
What let so many pets down?
Charging to update data
Historically, microchip databases business model was to charge the pet owner, the breeder or even the rescue to update their contact details. Spoiler alert, only one database doesn’t, that’s us – PetDatabase.
No one warned chips could be blank
You probably signed a puppy contract, took home a chunk of paperwork you didn’t read. Surely, the breeder handled the chip transfer. But did you ever check?
The database didn’t remind you
Difficult, if they have no idea who you are! Our recent surveys reveal one in three pet owners do not even know which database holds their pet’s microchip details. A common misconception is that they are registered with the vet, but your missing pet may not necessarily end up at your vet – they are reliant on the chip details having up to date information stored on a compliant database.
Why didn’t the vet spot it?
Your vet’s records will be up to date, but those won’t be linked to your microchip database.
When are pups chipped?
The law says puppies must be microchipped before they go to their new homes. The breeder should always be listed as first registered keeper – they’re breaking the law if they have not registered the pup before they are 8 weeks old.
But we found many breeders don’t add their details. They give the new owner their slip of paper instead – so the new owner is shown as the only keeper, that’s if they sent it off or went online to register.
Ok, I’m freaked out. How do I check?
Don’t worry – we’re here, and it couldn’t be easier!
Visit https://petdatabase.com and join us. We’ll guide you through.
Don’t have your chip number to hand? Don’t worry, still sign up.
We’ll help you and we’ll keep reminding you until everything is sorted! (And we won’t charge a penny,)
When you do type in the chip number (if you know it) and it will reveal which database (if any!) holds your pet’s record. We’ll do all the admin for you and collaborate with any other databases if needed.
We’ve found even quite elderly dogs still registered to their breeder. Until you check, you just can’t be sure that an emergency vet could find you.
So please don’t delay joining us. And tell everyone you know to check their chips, too – before it’s too late.
Who is PetDatabase and why do we it for free?
Even though the name might seem new to you, we’ve been in the pet sector for many years. Our parent company is an innovative business that hundreds of thousands of pet owners love and rely on every day. We build trusted, sustainable companies dedicated to making life better and safer for pets and their owners.
We always put the best interests of the dog and cat at the heart of everything we do.
Other databases may see a commercial opportunity to charge for updates. But at PetDatabase.com we believe passionately there should be no barriers to keeping data accurate – and that’s why we make our service completely free.
We’re DEFRA compliant – and vets and wardens have access to the information you provide us for re-unification if you need it.
You are probably thinking – I have no idea where my details are stored, and whether they are up to date.
Don’t panic – just sign up, we’ll get you through this!
It’ll be the best thing you do since that day you first brought your best friend home!
Please check my chip, I’d hate to be lost