What should I do if my pet is lost?

Act fast: search your immediate area calling calmly with treats, then file a found/lost report with every nearby shelter and your microchip registry, post on local lost-pet and neighborhood groups with a clear photo, put up flyers, and leave familiar-smelling items (their bed, your worn clothing) outside your home. Most lost pets are found close by within the first day or two.

How do pet microchips work?

A microchip is a tiny rice-sized RFID tag placed under the skin between the shoulder blades. It has no battery and no GPS — when a vet or shelter scans it, it shows a unique ID number linked to your contact details in a registry. It only works if you register the chip and keep your details up to date.

Does a microchip track my pet's location?

No. A standard microchip is not a GPS tracker and cannot show your pet's live location. It only stores an ID number that a scanner reads to look up your contact details. For real-time tracking you need a separate GPS collar or tag.

Lost Pet Action Plan & Microchip Guide

What to do the moment a pet goes missing — and how microchips bring them home.

Quick answer If your pet is missing, act in the first hour: search nearby calling calmly with treats, alert every local shelter and your microchip registry, post a clear photo to local lost-pet/neighborhood groups, hang flyers, and leave their bed and your worn clothing outside. Most lost pets are found close to home within a day or two. A registered microchip is the single best way to be reunited — but it must have your current phone number.

🚨 Lost pet — do this now

Search your immediate area first. Frightened pets often hide close by. Go quietly, call in a calm happy voice, and bring smelly treats; for cats, search at dawn/dusk and check under decks, sheds, and bushes.
Alert your microchip registry and mark your pet as lost (this flags the chip if scanned).
Call & visit every shelter and vet within ~15 km / 10 miles — file a lost report and check found listings in person; descriptions vary.
Post online immediately — local lost-and-found pet groups, neighborhood apps (Nextdoor), Facebook, and lost-pet sites — with a clear recent photo, location, and your number.
Make flyers with a big photo, "LOST," the area, and your number; post at intersections, vets, parks, and shops.
Leave a scent trail home. Put their bed, litter box, or your worn clothing outside your door — many pets return to a familiar smell.
Don't chase. A panicked pet runs; sit low, look away, and let them come to you.

How microchips actually work

A microchip is a tiny, rice-sized RFID tag placed under the skin between the shoulder blades (a quick injection, like a vaccine). It has no battery and no GPS — when a vet or shelter scans it, it displays a unique ID number linked to your details in a registry. Microchipped pets are far more likely to be reunited with their owners. The catch: it only works if the chip is registered and your contact info is current.

Microchip do's and don'ts

Do register the chip after it's implanted — an unregistered chip is a dead end.
Do update your details whenever you move or change your phone number.
Do keep an ID tag on too — a tag with your number gets your pet home without a scanner.
Don't rely on a chip for tracking — for live location you need a separate GPS collar/tag.
Do microchip indoor cats — they can slip out, and they rarely wear collars.

Found a lost pet?

If it's safe to approach, check for an ID tag, and take the pet to a vet or shelter to be scanned for a microchip (free). Post a "found" notice in the same local groups, and report it to shelters so the owner's lost report can be matched.

⚠️ Approach unknown or frightened animals with caution — scared pets may bite. If a pet is injured, contact animal control or a vet for safe handling.

Frequently asked questions

How much does microchipping cost?

Usually about $25–$60, often included with adoption or spay/neuter, and cheaper at low-cost clinics. Registration is typically free or a small one-time fee.

How do I find which registry my chip is in?

Look up the chip number in a universal lookup (such as the AAHA Pet Microchip Lookup), which tells you which registry holds it so you can update your details.

My pet has been missing for days — is there still hope?

Yes. Pets are found weeks later regularly. Keep your listings active, keep checking shelters in person, widen your flyer radius, and use feeding stations with cameras for cats.