Adopting a dog has several benefits. When you return home from work, there’s nothing quite like being greeted by your beloved dog, who is overjoyed to see you. When you adopt a dog, your new dog may come with an existing microchip from its previous owner. If this is the case, you may wonder to yourself; my dog has a microchip from previous owner – what should I do? It’s important to know your options.
There’s no need to be concerned or worried if your dog already has a microchip from a former owner. All You need to do is simply have the dog’s microchip registration transferred to you. And this is something that’s easy to do. By transferring the registration to you, if your dog becomes lost or goes to the veterinarian, anybody who handles your dog will have all the information they need to help them.
Let’s dive into how the transfer of registration works and easy ways that you can do this.
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My Dog Has A Microchip From Previous Owner – How Microchips Work
When a dog gets microchipped, they are given a one-of-a-kind identifier, which will never change at any time in their life. All the crucial information about your dog is included in this number, which is comparable to a social security number.
The embedded microchip in your dog’s collar may contain details such as your dog’s sex, name, date of birth, and vaccination records. Besides that, the microchip register is able to save information on the owner. A phone number and an address are included in this data.
Why You Should Get Your Dog Microchipped
If a dog has to be taken to the vet, the microchip provides a simple method for the vet to get all the necessary information. Even more crucial, if a dog goes missing and is later discovered by a local animal shelter, the organization will be able to track down the dog’s owner.
Microchips have the potential to save the lives of many dogs. A lot of times, animal shelters have to put down dogs that haven’t been claimed for a long time. Because of this, it’s highly recommended that you get your dog microchipped.
How To Transfer Microchip Registration From The Dog’s Previous Owner
The microchip registration may be transferred from the previous owner to the new owner in two main ways.
Get The Previous Owner To Transfer The Registration
You may ask the former owners to transfer the registration to you if you adopt a dog straight from them.
In this case, the dog’s original owners will be able to tell you which microchip firm is affiliated with the dog’s microchip. They’ll also have the login information and be able to move the registration over to you with no problem.
Adopting a dog from a shelter, on the other hand, is not so straight forward.
Transfer The Registration By Yourself
The animal shelter you adopt the dog from, or any veterinarian should be able to scan the microchip and provide you with information on which firm the microchip is registered with. They will be able to provide you with the microchip’s unique number that can be used to identify the microchip provider.
The AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool will help you locate the registry where you may seek a change of ownership once you know the dog’s microchip number.
As soon as you know where the microchip is registered, you may either go to their website or phone their customer service number. It’s almost certain that the company will need to contact the prior owners to verify the ownership transfer. Additionally, as the new dog owner, you will need to complete a form with all necessary information.
Responsible Rehoming Of Dogs Means Keeping Microchip Detail Current
Sometimes we have to find new homes for our pets due to unforeseen circumstances. As tough as it may be, it is critical that this be done with care.
For Previous Owners
If you have a dog and are seeking for a new home for it, do the right thing. Transfer the registration of your dog’s microchip to the new owner. If you are unsure who the new owner will be, give the animal shelter the microchip registration information so they can do so.
Moving to an unfamiliar house may be frightening and overwhelming for a dog. This often results in their fleeing and becoming lost. Therefore, it is critical that the microchip’s register has the right information.
For The New Owners
It might be wonderful to get a canine companion, but you need to be sure you have all the necessary papers. Microchip and vaccination records should be requested from the dog’s former owners.
After updating all the information and transferring the microchip registration into your name, remember to keep it updated. If you move or change your phone number, make sure to update your dog’s microchip with the new information. This way, if your dog gets lost and someone else finds them, you will be easy to locate.
How Do I Unregister My Dogs Chip?
You might need to unregister your dog’s microchip if your dog has been adopted or bought and therefore has new owners. You may also need to unregister your dog’s microchip if you have had to give up your dog to an animal shelter.
Unregistering your dog’s microchip means transferring the microchip’s registration to a new owner. This can be done easily as follows:
1. Identify Which Company The Microchip Is Registered With
If you have forgotten which company the microchip is registered with, don’t panic. As long as you have the dog’s microchip number, then sites such as The AAHA Universal have a Pet Microchip Lookup Tool. This allows you to find out which company the microchip is registered with using the microchip number.
2. Contact The Company The Microchip Is Registered With
Most microchip registration companies will allocate you an account on their website. You can log into your account and transfer the microchip registration to the new owner. This will typically mean inputting the phone number and address of the new owner and deleting your contact details.
You should give the account login details to the new owner as they are now the official owners of the dog.
Alternatively, you can contact the microchip registration company by phone and advise of the new owner’s information.
Can You Change The Information On A Dog’s Microchip?
Yes, you can change the information on a dog’s microchip. There ways in which this can be done depend on whether you originally got the dog microchipped, or if you own a dog that has a microchip from a previous owner.
What To Do If You Originally Got The Dog Microchipped
The first thing to do is identify which company the microchip is registered with.
Don’t worry if you’ve forgotten who issued the microchip. If you know the dog’s microchip number, you may use online tools like the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool. Using the microchip number, you may find out which company the microchip is registered with.
Most microchip registration firms will give you an account on their website. Log into your, input the new owner’s phone number and address, and delete yours.
The new owner is now the official owner of the dog, so it’s important that you provide them the account login credentials.
You may also call the microchip registration firm and give them details of the new owner.
What To Do If You Own A Dog That Has A Microchip From A Previous Owner
First, you will need to identify which company the microchip is registered with. Get this information from the previous owner who got the dog microchipped. If it’s not possible to contact the previous owner, that’s fine. Just follow the instructions below.
If you adopted the pet from an animal shelter, they will be able to scan the microchip and provide you with information on which firm the microchip is registered with. Any veterinarian can also do this. They will also be able to provide you with a unique number that can be used to identify the microchip provider.
If you know the dog’s microchip number, you may use the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool to find the registry where you can apply for a change of ownership.
After locating the company, the microchip is registered with, you may either visit their website or call their customer care number to inform them you’re the new owner. It’s likely that the company will need to contact the previous owners to verify ownership transfer. You will also need to fill out a form with the relevant details.
Does Microchipping Prove Ownership?
Microchips are not necessarily legal proof of dog ownership.
Why not? Because pets are commonly implanted with microchips at rescues, breeders, shelters, or veterinarian offices. During any stage of a dog’s life, this can happen. The dog’s chip must then be registered by the pet’s owner.
Further, if the dog is sold or given away, the owner must ensure that the microchip is transferred to the new owner. However, it’s estimated that just 50% of dogs who are sold or adopted have their microchip data updated. As a result, half of all dogs with microchips have incorrect ownership information stored on the chip.
How Do I Check If My Dogs Microchip Is Registered To Me?
In order to check if your dog’s microchip is registered to you, follow these simple steps.
- Got a veterinarian office or an animal shelter and ask them to scan your dog’s chip. They will then provide you with the microchip’s unique number.
- Visit AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool And enter the microchip’s number.
- You will then be given the name of the company which registered your dog’s microchip.
- Contact the company, by phone, email or live chat and check if your dog’s microchip is registered to you. If it’s not, you can get them to transfer the registration to you.
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My Dog Has A Microchip From Previous Owner – Summing Up
After reviewing this article you’ll now understand all the factors associated with the situation of your dog having a microchip from a previous owner. It’s not a situation that should panic you and it can easily be resolved. You just need to get the microchip’s unique number, contact the company that registered the microchip, and change the ownership details to yours.
Any animal shelter or veterinarian can scan the microchip and provide you with the chip’s unique number.