Microchipping is only effective for animal welfare when registration details are kept current, yet millions of microchipped animals cannot be reunited with owners due to outdated records.
The welfare benefit of microchipping is entirely dependent on accurate, current registration. A microchip with outdated details provides no benefit to a lost or injured animal. Moving house, changing phone numbers, or rehoming without transfer all create gaps that prevent reunification. The simple act of checking and updating microchip details annually protects against welfare harm from lost animal situations that cannot be resolved.