Every pet parent wants to keep their companion animals safe, happy, and close to home. But life can be unpredictable, and even the most vigilant pet owners know that accidents happen—doors are left open, pets get startled, or they simply get curious and wander off.

That’s where microchipping and registering pets comes in. This quick, simple procedure offers peace of mind and dramatically increases the chances of a pet’s safe return. In fact, pets with a registered microchip are three times more likely to make it home than those without.

Here’s why microchipping and registering is so important and what you can expect from the process.

More lost pets make it home

When a pet goes missing, finding them quickly is vital. Microchips work by linking an animal to its guardian’s contact information, and this is done by registering these details in a national database.

Our New Zealand Companion Animal Register (NZCAR) has more than 1.3 million animals registered and 1000 Approved Users (from organisations like vet clinics, SPCA and shelters all over the country) who can scan an animal and check their details.

In essence, a microchip is an invisible ID that a vet, shelter, or animal control officer can scan to quickly reunite lost pets with their families.

It’s worth noting that while microchipping offers a strong connection to an owner, it’s not sole proof of legal ownership. Ownership disputes are rare, but in situations where they arise, the microchip can serve as valuable evidence, although additional documentation might still be necessary.

Still, the primary purpose of microchipping is to make it as easy as possible to get pets back to the people who love and care for them, which it does – and we also know the longer a pet is missing, the more likely they are to get home if they are microchipped and registered.

One-time fee equals lifetime identification

Registering your animal’s details and linking them to you on the NZCAR costs just $15 – it is a one-time fee and gives you lifetime identification for your pet. It is important people remember to check their accounts regularly and update their information if they move house or change their contact details.

The process: quick, safe, and effective

While microchipping is a simple and relatively painless process, it is important that it is carried out by someone who has had appropriate training. This ensures the safety of your pet, and any persons assisting with the procedure. The microchip is a small device, about the size of a grain of rice, which is inserted just under the animal’s skin (in cats, dogs and rabbits – placement can vary between other species). Each chip has a unique identification number that must be linked up to the guardian’s contact details by registering this on the NZCAR (note this is not automatic and needs completion after the microchip is implanted).

Once the registration process is complete, the microchip can be scanned and will connect to the guardian’s contact details in our secure database – the NZCAR – which can then be searched by more than 1000 Approved Users around the country. This microchip remains active for the pet’s lifetime, making it a one-time investment in their safety.

While there have been limited cases in the past when microchips have migrated under the skin, these are uncommon. With advancements in microchip design, the latest microchips are made with materials that bond well to tissue, significantly reducing the likelihood of migrating under a pet’s skin and ensuring they stay securely in place.

Just remember: registering the microchip and keeping contact details up-to-date is essential. An unregistered chip is pointless and one with outdated information means it can lead to difficulties in reuniting lost pets with their owners.

Why tags alone aren’t enough

Many pet owners rely on tags as a form of identification, which are helpful and should be encouraged. However, tags can fall off or become difficult to read over time. Microchips, on the other hand, are a permanent form of identification that cannot be lost or removed, making them an excellent primary means of identification.

The statistics speak for themselves

Pets with registered microchips are three times more likely to make it home if they go missing compared to unchipped pets. This is a powerful statistic for any pet owner to consider. From our data we also know that the longer an animal is missing, the more likely they’ll make it home if they are microchipped.

When every moment counts in bringing a pet back to safety, a microchip can make all the difference.

Here are some more stats and facts from the last year:

113,735 animal registrations on the NZCAR in the last year (47% of these are made by vet clinics, 27% by SPCA, 11% by other animal charities and the remaining 15% by individuals, breeders and territorial authorities).
Total lost listing is 9,295 in the last year on LostPet.co.nz
Total found listings of 15,834 in the last year
Cats are 10x more likely to be listed as missing than dogs!
In October 2024 we had our 1000th horse registered on the NZCAR - meaning more people are understanding their equine companions need positive identification too!
November, December and January are the months when more animals are marked as missing – so it is really important in summer to ensure your animal is microchipped, registered, and your NZCAR account is up to date!

Not just cats and dogs

You can microchip and register so many species of companion animals. Our NZCAR has horses, donkeys, ferrets, fish, birds, turtles, rabbits, rodents, sheep and more!

Any animal can go missing so it is vital that found animals are always taken to an appropriate person who is able to first scan them to see if a microchip is present and therefore the guardian’s details are likely to be quickly found by searching the NZCAR.

Registering your pet’s microchip

Registering your pet’s microchip with a national register is the key to making this technology work. Here in New Zealand, the New Zealand Companion Animal Register (NZCAR) is the largest pet microchip database. Many pet owners assume that microchips are automatically registered, but this isn’t the case. After a pet is microchipped, you’ll need to provide your contact information to ensure it’s properly linked to your pet on the NZCAR. Expect an email from the NZCAR advising that they have received your pets registration details, and encouraging you to login and complete any missing fields. And, as life changes happen, updating this information is critical to keeping your pet protected.

When you’re at your regular vet visits, it is a good idea to have them scan the microchip as part of the consultation to make sure everything is working well. They may well do this already – but if not, a friendly reminder never goes astray!

After scanning, it is important the vet checks the microchip details against the New Zealand Companion Animal Register (OR as a guardian, people can do this themselves by logging into their account from their own device to check their details are correct).

Simple steps for peace of mind

When it comes down to it, microchipping and registering pets is an act of love and responsibility. It ensures that should the worst happen, you’ve done everything you can to help your pet find their way back home. After all, our pets are part of the family, and every family member deserves that kind of security.

Microchipping is affordable, effective, and could one day be the reason your pet finds their way back to you. By taking this small step, you’re giving them the best chance of a safe return home. So, if you haven’t yet microchipped and registered your pet, consider it a worthwhile investment in their wellbeing and your peace of mind.