Pet Microchip Company Shuts Down, Causing 'Urgent' Pet Identification Issue for Vets and Rescues

Mar. 15, 2025

A dog at the vet.Photo:Getty

Getty

A microchip company has ceased operations, resulting in organizations and companies concerned with pet welfare to call on owners to re-chip their animals.Save This Life, the Texas-based microchip company, went dark recently, according toCBS Pittsburgh station KDKA, noting that their phones were down when the outlet tried to contact them. Furthermore, the outlet determined via official Texas state documents that the company had ceased operations. On Jan. 24, its name was removed from theAmerican Animal Hospital Association Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool, which owners can use to locate lost pets, and since then veterinarians and shelters are urging owners to check their pets' chip.After Save This Life was removed from the AAHA list, many organizations began sharing the same message.“The URGENT issue for you as a pet owner is that they have unlinked their database from the national registries. Currently — if your pet were to become lost, there is NO way for any shelter or veterinary hospital to find your information. You MUST register your pet’s microchip with a new company," apostfromAnimal Rescuers Without Bordersread.Lost dog poster.GettyDan Cody, executive director of Pittsburgh’s Humane Animal Rescue, said the organization tried to reach out to Save This Life but found no help. This is “really concerning,” as a number of animals the Humane Animal Rescue brought in in the past six months had microchips from that company.“Microchipping is an absolutely crucial tool for reuniting pets with their families when they get lost,” Cody said.For any pet owner who isn’t sure where their animal’s microchip is registered, Cody suggested checking with a local vet, police station or animal shelter, where they’ll be able to scan the pet for a number — which can be used to search the AAHA lookup tool.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Susanna Wickham, CEO of PAWS Chicago,told CBSthat microchipping is often forgotten, amid all other pet needs. But it’s crucial, nonetheless, in case the animal gets lost, as so many do.“There’s a surprising number of pets we see that don’t have a microchip, and people don’t realize how, I think, common that is, and people don’t really think about it until their pet is lost,” Wickham said.

A microchip company has ceased operations, resulting in organizations and companies concerned with pet welfare to call on owners to re-chip their animals.

Save This Life, the Texas-based microchip company, went dark recently, according toCBS Pittsburgh station KDKA, noting that their phones were down when the outlet tried to contact them. Furthermore, the outlet determined via official Texas state documents that the company had ceased operations. On Jan. 24, its name was removed from theAmerican Animal Hospital Association Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool, which owners can use to locate lost pets, and since then veterinarians and shelters are urging owners to check their pets' chip.

After Save This Life was removed from the AAHA list, many organizations began sharing the same message.

“The URGENT issue for you as a pet owner is that they have unlinked their database from the national registries. Currently — if your pet were to become lost, there is NO way for any shelter or veterinary hospital to find your information. You MUST register your pet’s microchip with a new company," apostfromAnimal Rescuers Without Bordersread.

Lost dog poster.Getty

Dan Cody, executive director of Pittsburgh’s Humane Animal Rescue, said the organization tried to reach out to Save This Life but found no help. This is “really concerning,” as a number of animals the Humane Animal Rescue brought in in the past six months had microchips from that company.

“Microchipping is an absolutely crucial tool for reuniting pets with their families when they get lost,” Cody said.

For any pet owner who isn’t sure where their animal’s microchip is registered, Cody suggested checking with a local vet, police station or animal shelter, where they’ll be able to scan the pet for a number — which can be used to search the AAHA lookup tool.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Susanna Wickham, CEO of PAWS Chicago,told CBSthat microchipping is often forgotten, amid all other pet needs. But it’s crucial, nonetheless, in case the animal gets lost, as so many do.

“There’s a surprising number of pets we see that don’t have a microchip, and people don’t realize how, I think, common that is, and people don’t really think about it until their pet is lost,” Wickham said.

source: people.com