Companion Animal Microchipping and Welfare

Microchipping dramatically improves outcomes for lost companion animals and is one of the simplest, most effective welfare interventions available.

Key Facts

Microchipped dogs are more than twice as likely to be reunited with their owners after going missing as un-chipped dogs
England made microchipping of dogs compulsory in 2016; cat microchipping became mandatory in 2024
A study of over 7,700 stray animals found that only 21.9% of un-chipped cats were reunited with owners versus 38.5% of chipped cats
Chips are inserted under the skin between the shoulder blades using a needle; the procedure causes brief, minimal discomfort
Maintaining up-to-date contact details in the microchip registry is essential; chips with outdated information cannot facilitate reunion
Microchipping also facilitates pet identification in disaster situations and reduces animal shelter overcrowding through faster owner reunions

Welfare Considerations

Microchipping is a near-zero-cost, minimal-discomfort welfare intervention that has an outsized positive impact on animal welfare outcomes. The terror and confusion of being lost, the stresses of shelter housing, and the tragedy of euthanasia for space are all reduced by a chip the size of a grain of rice. Mandating microchipping and maintaining registry databases are two of the simplest policy levers available for improving companion animal welfare at population scale.

What You Can Do

Microchip your companion animals if not already done, and keep registry details current
Advocate for mandatory microchipping of both dogs and cats in your jurisdiction
Scan microchips of found animals before taking them to shelters to facilitate faster reunions
Support animal shelter microchip scanner programs that identify and return lost animals quickly