A common misconception is that microchipping and GPS trackers for your pet are the same. But they have very different purposes, with pros and cons for each. In this blog we’re going to educate you on the pros and cons of each to help you decide the best way to equip your pet to be as safe as possible.
Microchip:
Microchipping is done once in your pet’s life and can typically be done at a shelter or a veterinarian’s office. This is a small chip that is placed between the shoulder blades of your pet. You put your contact information into the system, and your pet is able to be scanned to find your contact information in the case that they are lost. They must be brought to a pet shelter, veterinarian’s office, or another similar setting in order for the chip to be scanned and for you to be contacted.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| If your pet is lost and is brought to a safe place, they are able to be scanned to find your contact information and reunite you with your pet. | You are not able to track your pet with a microchip, they must be brought to a safe place first in order for you to be contacted. |
| Your contact information is set into the chip, and you do not need to worry about if they lose their collar/tag while they are lost. | Since it is all electronic, you must remember to update this information if you move or change your contact information. |
| In the event that your pet is stolen, the microchip is able to legally identify yourself as the owner of your pet. | |
| The microchip is permanent and does not require you to charge it in order for it to work. |
GPS:
GPS trackers are trackers that you place on your pet (typically their collar) to help track their location. Check out our blog post “Pet Trackers to Use for Your Pets: Which is the Best Fit For You” to help determine which pet tracker you may want to use.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| You are able to track your pet at all times through your mobile devices. | You have to charge these devices for them to work, meaning if it dies while your pet is missing you will no longer be able to track them. |
| Many of the GPS trackers on the market allow you to track your pet’s health as well as their location. | There is nothing to legally tie yourself to your pet in the event that they are stolen. |
As you can see, microchips and GPS trackers are both great technologies to help keep your pet safe but they have different methods of how they work. We would recommend using both microchip and GPS to make sure that your pet is as safe as possible and to protect them in any given situation. Please do not assume that since your pet is microchipped they are automatically safe in the event that something happens. Microchipping is great that your contact information is embedded but they must be brought to a safe place for it to be utilized, meaning that if they are lost it may not always help. We hope that you learned more about each of these technologies and are able to use this information to help keep your pet safe!
