Animal Tracker registration for dogs
National Pets Reunited Day: Why Microchipping Is the First Step to Bringing Lost Pets Home
On the 4th of February, National Pets Reunited Day shines a spotlight on one of the most heartwarming moments a pet owner can experience: being reunited with a lost pet.
Whether it’s a dog that bolts during a walk, a cat that doesn’t return home, or a pet frightened by loud noises, pets are at constant risk of going missing. The good news? Lost pets with microchips are up to six times more likely to be reunited with their families than non-microchipped pets*. Reunions start with a microchip and keeping its details up to date.
What Is National Pets Reunited Day?
National Pets Reunited Day celebrates successful reunions between lost pets and their keepers while raising awareness about responsible pet identification. It highlights the vital role microchipping, accurate databases, and quick action play in getting pets safely back home.
Why Do Pets Go Missing?
Even the most well-cared-for pets can become lost. Common reasons include:
When a pet goes missing, time is critical. Clear, permanent identification significantly improves the chances of a swift reunion.
Why Microchipping Matters
A pet microchip is a tiny device implanted under your pet’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades. Each chip carries a unique identification number that links to your contact details on a secure microchip database.
This is why microchipped pets are far more likely to be reunited when they’re found.
Microchipping Is Only Step One
One of the biggest misconceptions about pet microchipping is that implantation alone is enough. In reality, a microchip is only effective if the registered details are accurate and up to date.
If your contact information is outdated, the microchip cannot do its job, even if your pet is found and scanned.
Details you should regularly check include:
Any change in circumstances, moving house, changing your number, or transferring pet ownership should trigger a database update.
How to Prepare for the Unthinkable
National Pets Reunited Day is the perfect opportunity to take proactive steps:
These simple actions take minutes but could save days, or even weeks, of heartbreak.
Every successful reunion starts the same way: a microchip, a scan, and accurate information. For thousands of pets reunited each year, that tiny chip makes an enormous difference.
This National Pets Reunited Day (4th February), celebrate the joy of reunions by making sure your own pet is protected. Don’t wait until it’s too late act now.
*Microchipped lost pets are six times more likely to be found based on lost pet reports being marked as found during 2025 from Pets Reunited.
