Check the Chip Day is celebrated annually on August 15. It’s that time of the year when we raise awareness regarding the importance of microchipping, which greatly helps in reuniting missing pets with their owners. In fact, every second a family pet is lost, with only one in ten ever being found. As per consensus, approximately ten million pets are lost annually. Microchipping provides peace of mind to pet owners as it confirms the safety of their beloved pets. Gone are the days when pets were kept in cages. Now, they can be free and out of harm’s way.
History of Check the Chip Day
Although microchipping pets may seems like a modern invention, it began to take form in the mid-1980s. A California-based animal microchip manufacturer called Avid Identification Systems Inc. first filed for a license for this technology in 1985. However, it wasn’t until 1989 that the first microchips were planted into our furry companions. In that same year, in the U.K., it became a permanent method of identifying and tracking lost animals. According to Mary Metzner, the director of shelter operations for Avid Inc., this technology works by activating a rice grain-sized radio frequency identification device (R.F.I.D.) with a handheld scanner. Pet microchipping quickly rose to global prominence following its introduction to the U.K.
In the 1990s, a group of microchip suppliers, veterinarians, and animal charities joined hands to form the Microchip Advisory Group (Microchip Trade Association, as called today). Around this time, the technical and compatibility issues of microchips were discussed by the Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations (F.E.C.A.V.A.) to control the quality and improve the standard of microchips for animals. Their plan included establishing a code of conduct for veterinarians and maintaining a high standard of excellence for their equipment and database. By 1996, the International Standards Organization (I.S.O.) introduced the I.S.O. 11784-1996 and the I.S.O. 11785-1996, which were adopted by the U.K. to ensure the safety of animals by using the latest technology.
Today, microchipped pets have a 20-fold higher return-to-owner rate than non-microchipped ones. Check the Chip Day is a good way to raise awareness about this efficient technology that ensures a pet’s safety.
Check the Chip Day timeline
A California-based company, Avid Identification Systems Inc. files for a patent on the use of microchipping animals.
The U.K. first uses microchipping for tracking lost pets.
I.S.O. 11784–1996 and 11785–1996 establish a code of conduct and excellent standards in pet microchip implementation.
As of 2016, microchipping pets in England, Wales, and Scotland is now mandatory.
Check the Chip Day FAQs
Is microchipping painful?
Microchipping pets is so painless that it does not even require anesthesia.
What information is stored in a microchip?
A microchip is connected to a database that stores basic information such as I.D. number, medical details, and the owner’s contact details.
Are microchips better than collar I.D.s?
Yes. Unlike collar I.D.s, microchips are more durable and can withstand unfriendly weather and similar conditions.
Check the Chip Day Activities
Volunteer in pet shelters
The idea behind Check the Chip Day is to reunite lost pets with their owners. Spend this day volunteering in shelters and helping stray cats and dogs find their homes.
Microchip your pets
If you haven’t microchipped your pets yet, this is the day to do it. Explore the various pet safety and security benefits microchipping offers. Although it’s not compulsory, microchipping pets ensures that your fur babies are protected.
Spread awareness on social media
Celebrate your pet’s microchipping on social media and spread awareness. This is a great way to let others know how important microchipping is for all pets. Normalizing this process and educating other people will encourage fellow pet owners to consider pet microchipping too.
5 Interesting Facts About Microchipping
Microchips are non-removable
Once fitted, a microchip stays under your pet’s skin for a lifetime.
Not a G.P.S. tracking device
Microchips do not provide the exact location or whereabouts of your pets.
Microchips are durable
Microchips are designed to withstand harsh conditions, making them resistant to damage.
Not limited to cats and dogs
Horses, goats, sheep, deer, rabbits, and turtles, to name a few can be easily microchipped.
It’s fast and easy
Microchipping is not a surgery, requires no anesthesia, and can be done in a couple of minutes.
Why We Love Check the Chip Day
We love our pets
As pet owners, we take every measure to ensure the safety and protection of our pets. Check the Chip Day gives us that extra security blanket to ensure that pets won’t be lost.
It helps reunites pets and owners
There’s no better feeling than seeing pets reunited with their owners. Check the Chip Day gives stray, lost, and missing pets the chance to be back with their families.
It eradicates the stigma
Most pet owners worry about microchipping and its safety. Check the Chip Day helps educate people about the fact that microchipping is completely safe and harmless for pets.
Check the Chip Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | August 15 | Friday |
| 2026 | August 15 | Saturday |
| 2027 | August 15 | Sunday |
| 2028 | August 15 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | August 15 | Wednesday |
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