Losing a pet on your watch is every pet sitter’s worst nightmare. The panic, the search, the fear of telling the owner—it’s a situation no one wants to face. A microchip can bring them home, but only if it’s registered and up–to–date. As a pet sitter, knowing a pet’s microchip number and verifying its registration with the owner is crucial. This blog covers why microchipping matters, what key details to check before sitting, and a step-by-step guide on what to do if a pet goes missing. Be prepared, be proactive, and keep pets safe.
Table of Contents
Microchip and Registration: A Unique Responsibility for Pet Sitters
As a pet sitter, ensuring the safety and well-being of your client’s pet goes beyond feeding and walking. One crucial aspect of pet care that often gets overlooked is confirming with the owners that their pets are properly microchipped and registered. A microchip is a permanent, effective ID, but for it to work, it must be registered with the right information.
Here’s what pet sitters need to know to set themselves apart from others and demonstrate professionalism and dedication to the pet’s well-being.
Why Microchipping and Registration Matter
Microchips are small, but they are mighty! They provide a permanent, non-removable form of identification, which can help reunite lost pets with their owners. However, a microchip alone is not enough. To be effective, the chip must be registered with accurate contact details. Many pet owners mistakenly believe that their veterinarian takes care of registration, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes, the vet only implants the microchip and asks the pet owner to register the animal instead. Pet owners should always double check and make sure their pet’s microchip is registered.
As a pet sitter, we encourage you to confirm with the pet owner that the microchip is registered. If it’s not, the pet could remain untraceable if they get lost.
What Pet Sitters Should Check Before Pet Sitting
To make sure you’re ready if something goes wrong, here’s a checklist of information to gather from your client. Note that this list is not exhaustive, pet sitters and owners should research additional best practices for their role:
- Confirm Microchip Registration Status
Remind the owners to log in to their pet registry to verify that their contact information is correct and traceable.
- Emergency Contact Information
An emergency contact plays a crucial role if a pet goes missing. Ensure the owner designates someone local as this contact, as they may need to report the pet missing if the owner cannot be reached. You can also consider asking the pet owner to list you as the emergency contact while they’re away, even for a short trip.
- Microchip Number
Ask the pet owner for the pet’s microchip number.
- Know the Pet Registry
The emergency contact may need to reach out to the pet registry to report a lost pet if the owner is unavailable to do so right away.
- Tattoo Code
If the pet has a tattoo, ensure it is legible and ask the owner to verify the tattoo code and the clinic it is linked to. Additionally, consider having the owner add you as an emergency contact while they are away. You can learn more about pet tattoo codes and registration here.
- Municipal License Information
Does the pet have a municipal dog or cat license? Confirm this with the pet owner, as the emergency contact—who could be you—may need to contact the city about a missing pet. Check more about municipal dog licenses here. For cats, see this guide on cat licenses in BC.
What to Do If a Pet Goes Missing
Despite your best efforts, pets can sometimes go missing. If that happens, it’s important to act quickly. Here’s a summarized checklist for missing pets:
- Contact the Owner Immediately – Notify the pet owner as soon as possible.
- Contact the Pet Registry – If you are the emergency contact, report the pet as lost through the registry. Ensure all contact information is up-to-date.
- Search the Area – Look in familiar places and call out the pet’s name.
- Alert Local Shelters and Animal Control – If found, they can scan for a microchip.
- Use Social Media and Community Boards –Many lost pets are reunited through online posts.
For more information on what to do if your pet goes missing, visit this guide.
Your Role as a Pet Sitter in Microchip and Registration
As a pet sitter, you’re in a unique position to verify a pet’s microchip registration with the owner before any issues arise. By confirming the pet’s registration and emergency details with the owners, you ensure a faster return if the pet gets lost.
What sets you apart from other pet sitters is your commitment to going through these preventative measures and having a clear plan in place. Taking the time to verify these crucial details not only helps ensure the pet’s safety but also demonstrates your professionalism and dedication to the pet’s well-being.
Conclusion
If your client’s pet has a microchip, have them log in today and confirm it is registered. Consider asking them to add you as an emergency contact. Need help? Learn more about How Pet Microchips Work or reach out to us at info@bcpetregistry.ca.
Remember, reminding the owners to keep the microchip and registration details up to date can make all the difference in a pet’s safe return home!
FAQ
1. Why should pet sitters know a pet’s microchip number?
Knowing a pet’s microchip number allows the emergency contact—who could be you—to act quickly and report the pet missing to the appropriate authorities. If you are not the emergency contact, you may need to guide the designated person on the necessary steps to take if the pet goes missing.
2. How can I check if a pet’s microchip is registered?
Ask the pet owner to reach out to the BC Pet Registry at info@bcpetregistry.ca so we can help check the registration status.
3. What if a pet has a tattoo instead of a microchip?
If a pet has a tattoo, ensure it is legible and confirm that the vet who provided the service has the pet owner’s most up-to-date information. Learn more about pet tattoo codes and registration here. You can also encourage pet owners to register legible tattoo codes to the BC Pet Registry so that it is searchable in the system rather than relying on the vet clinic for information.
4. What should I do if a pet goes missing while in my care?
First, stay calm and notify the owners. If the owners cannot be reached, immediately have the emergency contact report to the pet registry as lost. Notify local shelters, post in community groups, and spread the word. For a full step-by-step guide, visit this resource.
5. What if a pet’s microchip isn’t registered?
Encourage the owner to register their pet’s microchip immediately! Unregistered microchips make it difficult to reunite lost pets. If they need help, direct them to How Pet Microchips Work.
6. Who is responsible for keeping the microchip details updated?
Pet owners are responsible for keeping their pet’s microchip details updated. As a pet sitter, you can play a crucial role in reminding owners to check and update their pet’s registration before leaving them in your care.
