Pets are more than animals; they are family. Yet every year, countless dogs and cats go missing after slipping out of a gate, getting startled by loud noises, or wandering too far from home. In those moments of panic and uncertainty, one small piece of technology can make a life-changing difference: a microchip. Microchipping is not flashy or complicated. It is quiet, invisible, and often forgotten, until the day it helps a lost pet find its way back home. What is a Microchip?
A microchip is a very small device, about the size of a grain of rice. It is placed just under a pet’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades, by a veterinarian. The process is quick and similar to a routine injection. The chip does not have GPS and does not track a pet’s location. Instead, it stores a unique identification number. When a vet, shelter, or animal rescuer scans the pet with a special reader, that number appears on the screen. The number is linked to a database that holds the pet owner’s contact details. If the information in the database is kept updated, the pet can be traced back to its family, even years later. Why microchipping matters more than collars and tags Collars and ID tags are useful, but they are not foolproof. They can fall off, fade over time, or be removed intentionally. A microchip, on the other hand, stays with the pet for life. Because it is hidden under the skin, it cannot be easily tampered with.
Even if a pet is missing for months or years, the chip remains readable. This permanence is what makes microchipping so effective. Also read: NASA permits smartphones in space, Crew-12 and Artemis II will let astronauts capture moments with their phones
How microchipping helps lost pets in India India has a large population of stray animals, and even owned pets often roam freely in neighbourhoods. In busy cities, it is easy for a pet to get disoriented or picked up by someone far from home. This makes microchipping especially important. When a lost dog or cat is found, shelters and veterinary clinics usually follow a simple process.
First, they look for collars or tags. If none are found, they scan the animal for a microchip. If a chip is detected, the identification number is checked in a registered database, and the owner is contacted. This process can turn a heartbreaking situation into a happy reunion, sometimes within hours.
How a tiny chip reunites families A moving example is that of Filou, a pet cat from France. During a family holiday in Spain in 2025, Filou escaped from a camper van at a highway stop. Despite weeks of searching, his family feared the worst.
Months later, in January 2026, a shelter in southern France scanned Filou and detected a microchip. That tiny chip carried his identity across borders and time, allowing him to be reunited with his family after travelling over 150 miles.
What happens without a microchip? Without a microchip, a lost pet’s chances of returning home drop sharply, especially in crowded areas. If a collar is missing or damaged, there may be no way to identify the animal. Many such pets end up in shelters permanently or remain on the streets. Microchipping does not prevent pets from getting lost, but it dramatically improves the chances of bringing them back. Also read: Hackers get into Epstein’s personal Gmail account after password ‘exposed,’ you can now read all of his emails
Is microchipping safe and affordable?
Yes. Microchipping is widely considered safe by veterinarians. Complications are extremely rare, and pets usually do not feel any lasting discomfort. In India, the cost is relatively low, often between ₹500 and ₹2,000, depending on the clinic and city. Once implanted, the chip does not need batteries or replacement. The only responsibility for pet parents is to keep their contact details updated in the database. A small step that makes a big difference Microchipping may seem like a minor procedure, but its impact is powerful. It offers certainty in moments of fear, hope in times of loss, and relief when families are reunited. For pet parents in India, where the risk of pets going missing is real and constant, microchipping is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect a beloved companion.
