How to update your pet's microchip and get a local license
To update pet microchip details, find your pet's 9, 10 or 15-digit chip number, enter it in the free AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup, and note which registry holds the record. Change your address and phone number with that registry itself. Then ask your new city or county about pet license rules.
Why to update pet microchip details when you move
A microchip gives a scanner a number, and that number only helps if the record behind it reaches you. If a shelter scans your lost dog and the registry has your old phone number, the trail stops there.
The AAHA lookup is the fastest way to find that record, but it's easy to misread what it does. It's a search tool, not a registry. It shows whether a number is registered and where, along with the registry's website, its phone number and the date the record was last updated. It doesn't show owner details, and you can't make changes in it. That last-updated date is handy: if it's older than your move, you know the record is out of date.
The tool doesn't catch everything. Found Animals notes that some registries don't take part, naming AVID as an example, so a blank result doesn't always mean your pet isn't registered. A blank result can also be a typo, so re-enter the number first.
Pet microchip lookup: what you need and what it means
Have these ready before you start:
- The chip number, from vet records or adoption papers. If you can't find it, a vet clinic or shelter can scan your pet. The City of San Antonio, for example, points owners to a free scan.
- Your new address, and a phone number you'll really answer.
- A second contact. Ready.gov suggests an emergency contact outside your immediate area.
- Your registry login, or a way to prove the chip is yours.
| Lookup result | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| One registry listed | Your record is probably there | Update it directly with that registry |
| Several registries listed | The chip may be on more than one | Contact each one, starting with the first listed |
| Manufacturer shown, no registry | The chip may never have been registered | Contact the manufacturer and register it |
| Blank result | A typo, a non-participating registry or no registration | Re-enter it, then call your vet or the registry on your paperwork |
Registry fees and account rules vary. Some updates may be free, while others may be part of a paid membership, so check the terms before you pay.
A chip record and a pet license are different things, and license rules are local. Some places require a license for dogs and cats, and others treat it differently. In San Antonio, the city requires dogs, cats and ferrets to be microchipped and registered, and dogs must wear an ID tag outdoors, but you register the chip with the manufacturer, not the city. Your new city or county animal services office can tell you what's required, what proof it needs and what it costs. Fees and deadlines vary.
San Antonio's advice to check your record yearly is good anywhere. Put a reminder on your calendar with your pet's annual vet visit.
How to change the address on a pet microchip
- Find the chip number
Check vet records and adoption papers. If it's not there, ask a vet or shelter to scan your pet.
- Run the AAHA lookup
Enter the number at the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup and note the registry, its phone number and the last-updated date.
- Update the registry
Log in or call the registry named, and change your address, phone and email.
- Add a backup contact
List someone outside your immediate area, so a finder can reach somebody if your phone is off.
- Confirm the change
Look for an email or on-screen confirmation, and run the lookup again later to see the new date.
- Check local license rules
Call or visit the site of your city or county animal services office, and ask what's required and what proof to bring.
- Get a new ID tag
Order one with your current phone number, and keep a spare in your pet's bag.
Update pet microchip and ID tags before moving day
Do this before moving day if you can, since pets are more likely to slip out while doors stand open and they don't yet know the area. Order a new ID tag with your current phone number too, because a neighbor can read a tag without a scanner. Ready.gov says pets should wear a collar and ID tag, and it suggests keeping a spare set.
Save a current photo of your pet, plus a photo of you together, which helps prove ownership. Keep copies of the registration in a waterproof container and in your phone.
If your kids think of a pet as theirs, list an adult as the contact anyway. Registries call the number on file, so it should be a phone someone will always answer.
Pet license after moving and other microchip questions
How do I find out which company my pet's microchip is registered with?
Enter the chip number in the free AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup. It shows which participating registries have the number, and how to reach them. It doesn't show owner information.
Can my vet update my pet's microchip?
Your vet can scan your pet and give you the chip number, but you'll generally update your details directly with the registry. Having the address on file at the clinic doesn't change the chip record.
Do I need a new pet license after I move?
It depends on your new city or county, because rules are local. Check with animal services about what's required, how much it costs and how soon you need to do it.
Sources: foundanimals.org, mchip.org, sa.gov, Ready.gov
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