Make home only a scan away

Dr. Cyrena Rose, a relief veterinarian in Miami, Fla., suggests technicians check each chart during first puppy visits and annual exams to see whether a pet is microchipped. "If the pet has a chip, scan it to show clients that it's still working and remind them to keep their contact information updated with the company that manufactured the chip," says Dr. Rose. If clients moved or never registered, this helps them realize the importance of registering, she says. And of course, if the pet doesn't have a chip, this gives the technician an opportunity to explain the benefits of microchipping to the owner.

"After Hurricane Katrina, we also realized that many registered pets had only local phone numbers registered," says Dr. Rose, "and with everyone evacuating and businesses being shut down, even pets with microchips couldn't find their owners. So we advise clients to include at least one phone number of a friend or relative that's out of their immediate area in their registration information." This way, if there is a disaster, that person might know where the owner is or even keep the pet until the owner can be found.