Major microchip provider unexpectedly shuts down

For many pet owners, a microchip could be the only way to ensure your dog or cat returns home if it's lost, but earlier this month, Save This Life unexpectedly shut down, leaving many pet microchips without a database. Savvy Parker from Greenville Humane Society says Save This Life is a major provider for its clinics and many other veterinary hospitals in the area, but many pet owners don't know about its closure. “That's going to affect hundreds of people, thousands of people across the U.S., and we just want to make sure that those people know what to do now because those microchips are no longer going to be on that company,” Parker said. A microchip is a small device typically inserted between a dog or cat's shoulder blades, and it contains a number that can be scanned at a vet office or shelter. That number connects to a database run by the microchip company to connect an owner back to their pet. Without that database, the contact information is lost. “There's nowhere to check for it, so you could put that number in, but it's not going to pop up as being registered with the companies that are still active,” Parker said. However, there is a simple fix, and you won't have to remove or replace the current device. “The microchip is just a number, so when you scan it, it's going to show up as a number on our scanner, and then we check that against the databases,” Parker said. “We just want to get that reregistered with a new company, but it'll work the same way.”She said the best way to do this is at your next vet appointment or you can stop by Greenville Humane Society. If you have not already, Parker also recommends getting your pet microchipped. You can do it at Greenville Humane Society for $20.

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