Bringing home a new pet comes with a long checklist. Between supplies, vet visits, and settling into a routine, one step is easy to overlook: confirming that your pet’s microchip is properly registered and linked to your contact information.

Most shelters, rescues, and breeders implant microchips before adoption. However, the registration process varies. In some cases, the organization registers the chip on your behalf. In others, they provide the microchip number and leave registration to the new owner.

Either way, it’s important to verify the status of the microchip and make sure the information on file is accurate. A microchip only works if it’s connected to the right owner.

Why Microchip Registration Matters

Microchips provide permanent identification, but only when they are registered correctly.

• About 1 in 3 pets will go missing at some point in their lifetime

• Collars and tags can break, slip off, or be removed

• Veterinarians and shelters rely on microchip registries to identify and contact owners

If a microchip isn’t registered, or if the contact details are outdated, a scanned chip may not lead back to you.

Step-by-Step: What New Pet Owners Should Do

Step 1: Find your pet’s microchip number

Your pet’s microchip number is often listed on:

• Adoption or rescue paperwork

• Veterinary records

• Breeder documentation

If you can’t find it, most veterinary clinics and shelters can scan your pet and provide the number at no cost.

Step 2: Check where the microchip is registered

Use the AAHA Pet Microchip Lookup Tool, the same system used nationwide by veterinarians, shelters, and animal control officers. The lookup will show:

• Whether the microchip is registered

• Which registry currently holds the record

Step 3: Confirm the information on file, or register the chip

If the microchip is already registered:
Contact the listed registry to verify that:

• The pet is registered under your name

• Your phone number, email, and address are correct

If the microchip is still associated with a previous owner, shelter, or breeder, request a transfer.

If the microchip is not registered:
You’ll need to register it with a microchip registry so your contact information is accessible if the pet is found. At this stage, many pet owners choose a registry that allows:

• Lifetime registration without required renewals

• Easy updates if contact information changes

• Clear visibility through the AAHA Lookup Tool

Pawbase is one option that offers lifetime microchip registration with mobile access and ongoing management tools.

How Pawbase Supports Ongoing Protection

Pawbase is designed to make microchip registration easier to manage over time. Pet owners can:

• Register any microchip brand, including 9-, 10-, or 15-digit formats

• Update contact information at any time from a mobile app

• Control what information is visible when a pet’s microchip is searched

For pet owners who want additional awareness, Pawbase also offers an optional Premium upgrade that provides:

• Instant alerts when a pet’s microchip is searched, with time and location details when available

• Tools to quickly share lost-pet information

Lifetime microchip registration remains active regardless of whether Premium features are used.

What Matters Most

Microchips are permanent, but the information behind them is not.

Phone numbers change. Email addresses change. Moves happen. Keeping your microchip registration accurate is what allows a shelter or veterinarian to reach you when it matters most.

After adoption, taking a few minutes to verify registration, and choosing a system that makes updates easy, can make a meaningful difference if your pet is ever lost.