Even if you don't have a problem with wandering pets, do it just in case!

Having worked at a shelter, not only get your animal chipped, but REGISTER/UPDATE your info!!! I can't tell you how many animals we got in that their microchip was never registered or had outdated info.

In pretty much every country I know in the EU it is mandatory by law to have your pets microchipped. That, however, won't help with much when it comes to thieves. I've also heard of cases, where the chip somehow ended up moving from the place it was first put into, and because no one has checked the dog all over, a second chip has been put in...

This person wasn’t checking the chip.

It the UK it is the law to get your dog chipped.

The problem with vet checking for chip is 1/2 the time they don't call in to check and just put it in the chart. I think they should be required to call in on any chip they find

Every dog and cat should be microchipped AND THEN THE OWNER MUST REGISTER THE CHIP. Shocking how many people don't know that or follow through.

In the UK, it is actually against the law for dogs to not have a microchip.

Have worked at vets we don't check every new patient for a chip so no it wouldn't be found the first vet visit. The only times we check for a chip is if were asked to check, we know the dog was found, or it matches the description of a missing dog in the area but the last one is really rare. That's why it's really important to let vets in the area know and I registered with AKC reunite because they have a single registration fee ($35) for the entire life and an extra $5 you can report your dog missing and it sends a flyer of your missing pet to all animal establishments in a certain radius. What's more important is checking the surroundings before letting your dog out, repairing broken fences, and not leaving a dog in a questionable space unattended for long periods of time. It's common sense that if you wouldn't leave your toddler outside unattended for hours on end don't leave your pretty out like that either