Microchipping

The Humane Society of the Black Hills at 1820 E. Saint Patrick Street offers convenient, affordable pet microchipping. Call (605) 394-4170 or stop in for more information.

Microchipping

The Humane Society of the Black Hills at 1820 E. Saint Patrick Street offers convenient, affordable pet microchipping. Call (605) 394-4170 or stop in for more information.

Millions of pet become lost each year. Tragically, few are reunited with their owners. Many lost dogs and cats end up in shelters where they are adopted out to new homes or possibly euthanized. It is important that your pet has identification at all times so that they are more easily reunited with you.

Collars and tags are essential, but they can fall off or become damaged. Technology has made it possible to equip your pet with a microchip for permanent identification!

A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice. It consists of a tiny computer chip housed in a type of glass made to be compatible with living tissue. The microchip is implanted between the dog or cat’s shoulder blades under the skin with a needle and special syringe.

The process is similar to getting a shot, and the animal experiences little to no pain. In fact, most pets do not seem to even feel it being implanted. Once in place, the microchip can be detected immediately with a handheld device that uses radio waves to read the chip. This device scans the microchip, and then displays a unique alphanumeric code.

After inserting the microchip, the pet must be registered with the microchip company, usually for a one-time fee (If your pet is adopted from the HSBH, this service is included in your microchip fee). Then the pet can be traced back to the owner if found.

  • A current rabies vaccination certificate must be presented at time or microchipping procedure
  • Owner must show a valid identification
  • Microchips are designed to last for the life of a dog or cat – they do not need to be charged or replaced
  • Some microchips have been known to migrate from the area between the shoulder blades, but the instructions for scanning emphasize the need to scan the animal’s entire body
  • An animal that is microchipped can be easily identified if found by a shelter or veterinary office in possession of a scanner – However, some shelters and veterinary offices do not have scanners
  • Depending on the brand of microchip and the year it was implanted, even so-called “universal scanners” may not be able to detect the microchip
  • Microchip manufacturers, veterinarians, and animal shelters have been working on solutions to the imperfections, and technology continues to improve over time

No method of identification is perfect. The best thing you can do to protect your pet is to be a responsible owner. Keep current identification tags on your pet at all times, consider microchipping as reinforcement, and never allow your pet to roam free. If your pet becomes lost, more identification can increase the odds of finding your beloved companion.