How to update your pet’s microchip details

If you have moved, changed phone numbers, or rehomed a pet from someone else you will need to update their microchip details.

How does a microchip work?

The microchip is a small computer chip about the size of a grain of rice or perhaps even smaller in some of the chips we use now. A microchip scanner is used to read the microchip. The microchip contains a unique number that identifies your pet. In dog and cats we implant a microchip under the skin between the shoulder blades. It is inserted with a large needle. 

A microchip registry keeps a record of the microchip number with the details of the pet owner such as their name, phone number and address. If your pet gets lost the pet can be scanned and their number found. We then ring or lookup the microchip register online using the number and you can then be contacted. 

Who is the microchip register?

In Australia there are multiple microchip registries. Some are state government owned and others are privately owned. It will depend on where you have/had your dog or cat chipped which microchip registry will/would have been used.

In NSW all dogs and cats are required to be entered onto the Companion Animal Register (CAR) and registered once they are 6 months of age. It is illegal in NSW to sell or give away a dog or cat without a microchip being implanted in the animal.

Moving to Wollongong from interstate?

If you are moving here from other Australian states then the details will probably not be on the Companion Animal Register. You will need to:

1. update the details on the register that your pet is registered on
2. have the details added to the CAR (You will need a 'Verification of Existing Microchip Form' completed which must be done by an authorised implanter, we offer this service free of charge to our clients and several of our nurses are accredited and able to complete this for you without a consultation.)

Moving from overseas to Wollongong?

If your pet is already microchipped they will not need to be microchipped again unless they have a non-ISO chip that can not be read by our microchip scanners in Australia. If they are already microchipped you will need a 'Verification of Existing Microchip Form' completed. This needs to be done by an authorised implanter. We offer this service free of charge to our clients and several of our nurses are accredited and able to complete this for you without a consultation.

Updating your details

A microchip without correct information on the microchip registry is useless. Too often we see animals that have strayed and the details on their microchip have never been updated so their owners can’t be located. 

Guess what? A microchip doesn’t know if you’ve moved!

If you have:

• moved house
• changed your phone number
• sold or given away an animal
• purchased an animal or had it given to you

the record on the microchip registry needs to be updated. In NSW you need to complete a change of address or ownership form and send it into your local council. Our local council's addresses are listed here:

Wollongong City Council
Locked Bag 8821
Wollongong NSW 2500

Shellharbour City Council 
Locked Bag 155 
SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE NSW 2529

General Manager
PO Box 75
Kiama NSW 2533

The General Manager
Wingecarribee Shire Council
PO Box 141 Moss Vale NSW 2577

What if I don’t know the microchip number?

There are 2 ways you can find out your pets microchip number:

1. Find your original paperwork from when your pet was chipped or registered. It could also be on your pets vaccination record
2. Have your pet scanned. As I said previously we are more than happy to scan your pet to check the number for you, call in any time.