Each year, more than 10 million pets are lost in the U.S. and, tragically, many of these lost pets may not ever find their way home. May is National Chip Your Pet Month, the ideal reminder that proper identification can mean the difference between life and death for your beloved furry friend.

In a quick and painless procedure, a tiny computer microchip containing the owner’s name, address and phone number is inserted by a veterinarian under the pet’s skin. If the pet becomes lost, the chip can be scanned for the pet owner’s contact information – stored securely by a microchip company.

While ID tags may fall off or become unreadable over time, microchips ensure permanent and accessible information for a lost pet. Nearly all animal shelters across the country routinely scan every animal upon intake for the presence of a microchip.

Losing a pet is devastating. Inspired by National Chip Your Pet Month, take the extra precaution to have your pet microchipped today! Accidents happen, and in the event your pet gets lost, they will be much more likely to find their way back home to you with this extra layer of protection.