Microchipping

Since January 1, 2020, all dogs and cats over six months old in Montreal must be microchipped. You can of course have your pet wear a collar and tag with your contact information, but collars and tags can always be removed, lost or pulled off. The microchip is a proven and permanent identification method that acts as a virtual ID tag. Here’s some information on how they work.

What’s a microchip and how big is it?

A microchip is a small electronic implant the size of a grain of rice with a unique ID number that is connected to the owner’s contact information in a database. The microchip is not a GPS tracker – it can’t be used to locate your pet. The microchip is inserted between your pet’s shoulder blades in a procedure that only takes a few seconds. Most veterinary clinics and shelters have a device to check for a microchip.

What happens to animals that are not microchipped?

If your pet is not microchipped and gets lost or goes missing and ends up in a shelter or pound, they will be kept for a few days before being adopted or worse, euthanized.

I’m moving soon. Do I need to change my pet’s microchip?

The microchip is a permanent identification method that is implanted one time in your pet’s back. It does not contain a battery and remains functional for the entirety of your pet’s life. When your address or phone number changes, you just need to update the information in the pet microchip registry. We will tell you how to do this when we microchip your pet.