One can never be too careful. The most obedient dogs can sometimes get scared and take off running. Strictly indoor cats sometimes manage to get out of the house, even in high-rise apartments. And, unfortunately, pets get stolen.

The American Humane Association reports that only 17% of lost dogs and only 2% of lost cats find their way home. Microchipping your pet increases their chances. Nowadays almost all veterinarians and shelters are equipped with a microchip scanner. The microchips the we, at SBVG, use can even be read by readers as far away as Europe, Australia, and Israel.

Microchipping is an inexpensive, minimally painful procedure. A microchip is a tiny computer chip (about the size of a grain of rice) that is injected with a syringe under the loose skin between the shoulder blades. Animals do not need to be anesthetized and most do not react to the injection any more than they would to a vaccine.

Unlike identification tags, microchips do not wear out or get lost. Once inserted, they stay active for life.