Concerns grow after microchip company shuts down

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – Several pets, including cats and dogs, rely on microchips for identification in case they go missing. But the recent news that a Texas-based company is shutting down has raised concerns among pet owners about the fate of their pets’ microchips.

Mandy Gantner, a pet owner, expressed her worry, saying, “With my cat, I would be devastated.” Gantner, relieved to know her pet is microchipped, admitted, however, that she was unsure which company her pet was registered with. Like many others, she was left wondering whether her pet’s chip was connected to the company that had recently shut down.

The company, Save This Life, announced it was discontinuing services, leaving pet owners scrambling for answers. “Now when you take your pet to the vet to get a certain chip scanned, they are not coming up,” said one concerned pet owner.

On Tuesday, Save This Life was listed as inactive, triggering a wave of anxiety among those whose pets were registered with the company. Mindy, another pet owner, shared her parents’ concerns about the microchip’s ability to protect their dog, Winston. “It wasn’t so much about Winston getting lost. It was that someone could steal him. It would be devastating if the chip didn’t prove that he’s ours.”

In response to growing concerns, FOX23 reached out to veterinarians and online resources to find out what pet owners should do. We learned that if a pet is chipped by Save This Life, the chip will not show up in any database. Pet owners should contact the vet or clinic that implanted the chip to obtain the chip number. If the chip is registered under a different company, no action is needed.

If the chip is with Save This Life, pet owners should re-register through another service.

Abbigail Steibel, a veterinary technician at Waterloo Animal Hospital, said it’s important to act quickly. “If a company we use were to go out of business, it would be concerning,” she said. “We have hundreds of pets registered with that company, and if a dog comes in, we wouldn’t be able to track them back to their owner.”

Veterinarians recommend all pet owners double-check which company their pets are registered with to ensure their microchips remain active.

Have your pet’s microchip scanned at your veterinary clinic. You can use AAHA’s Microchip Lookup Tool to check the registration status.

If your pet’s chip was registered with Save This Life, you should re-register with a new provider.

We also reached out to Save This Life over the phone on their website and email and have not heard back yet.