By Mark Gill, CEO of Petasure

Most pet owners believe microchipping offers security. A safety net. A guarantee that, should the worst happen, their beloved animal will find its way home.

But the reality is less reassuring.

The truth is, very few owners truly understand how microchips work – or more importantly, how they don’t. This isn’t their fault. It’s rarely explained in full at the vet’s surgery, and much of the guidance available online is vague or incomplete. As a result, widespread misunderstandings persist.

Many people wrongly assume that a microchip acts like a GPS tracker – capable of pinpointing your pet’s exact location. It doesn’t. In fact, a microchip is simply a passive radio frequency device, inserted under the skin. It contains a reference number. That number can only be retrieved with a compatible scanner – and then cross-checked against a database to identify the owner.

It’s a fragile chain. And unfortunately, it’s only as strong as its weakest link.

A System Full of Single Points of Failure

Let’s break it down. For a microchip to serve its purpose, the following must all happen:

• The chip must remain in the animal’s body and be located during scanning
• The chip must still be functional – electronics can fail over time
• The scanner must be working and compatible with the chip’s frequency
• The person scanning must use correct technique and know where to check
• The database must be accessible and hold the correct owner details
• The owner’s details must be up to date

If just one of these fails, the microchip becomes useless.

And failures do happen. Regularly.

What Goes Wrong – And Why It Matters

Let’s start with migration. Although designed to stay put, microchips can move to other parts of the body over time. This means they can easily be missed during a scan, especially if the scanning technique is rushed or inadequate.

Then there’s compatibility. Despite national legislation, there is still no true universal scanning standard. Some older microchips, or those using less common frequencies, cannot be read by certain scanners. This risk increases dramatically when pets travel abroad – despite the requirement to be chipped before crossing borders.

Other physical issues can prevent scans from succeeding. Matted fur, excess body fat, thick collars, or metal tags can all obstruct the scanner’s signal. If a pet is found in poor condition – injured, unkempt, or neglected – these barriers are more likely.

Even when a scan is successful, problems persist. In many cases, the registered contact information is outdated, incomplete, or missing altogether. If you can’t be traced, your pet can’t be returned.

Worst of all, there’s the growing issue of deliberate removal. Organised pet theft gangs are known to surgically extract microchips to prevent detection – particularly in high-value or pedigree animals destined for illegal sale or breeding.

It’s Time to Face the Truth

Microchipping remains a vital tool. But it is not infallible. It is not enough on its own. And we must stop pretending otherwise.

At Petasure, we believe the future lies in Digital Pet IDs: a smarter, more reliable solution that links each pet to a secure, centralised platform – accessible by vets, authorities, charities, and owners alike.

Microchips can and should still play a role. But until we combine them with verifiable, traceable, digital identification – supported by robust legislation and education – we are leaving too much to chance.

We owe our pets more than that.

To find out more, or to register your pet with Petasure, visit: www.petasure.co.uk

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