Dog and Cat Microchips

Thanks to pet microchips, the small computer chip ID implants used by shelters, rescue groups and veterinarians, thousands of pets have found their way back home. Some pets wandered away and became lost or injured. In other cases, they were stolen from their homes. A microchip was all the pet had for ID to provide a clue about where he or she belonged.

Many pet-human reunions take place months or years after the pet first went missing. Microchips work when tags fall off or collars are removed. Here is a photo gallery of what the chip looks like, how it is implanted, and how scanners work.