Why Microchipping is Essential for Your Puppy’s Safety

By Sherri Smeraglia

Living in areas prone to storms and unpredictable weather, like the South, reminds us how important it is to keep our pets safe and accounted for, especially in emergencies like hurricanes or storms. While we prepare for Hurricane Francine’s tropical winds and rains, I want to take a moment to emphasize something critical for all dog and puppy owners: microchipping.

At Smeraglia Farm, we use AKC Reunite Microchips, and we’ve trusted this service for years. It’s part of the American Kennel Club’s Lost Pet Recovery Service, which operates 24/7 to reunite lost pets with their families. It’s reassuring to know that, if your puppy ever goes missing, the AKC is there to help, anytime—day or night.

What is Microchipping and Why Does It Matter?

Microchipping is a safe and simple way to ensure that, no matter what happens, your puppy can always be identified and returned to you. Think of the microchip as your dog’s permanent ID—a Social Security number for dogs.

At Smeraglia Farm, all of our puppies are microchipped around four weeks of age. Once microchipped, the number is permanently registered and becomes their unique identifier throughout their life. Everything we do is based on their microchip number. If you adopt a puppy from us, there is no additional fee for this service—it’s included as part of the adoption process.

How Does It Work?

A microchip is a tiny device implanted just under your puppy’s skin, typically between the shoulder blades. It contains a unique ID number that is linked to your contact information through a secure database like AKC Reunite. If your puppy is lost, a shelter or vet can scan the chip and access this information to quickly contact you.

What If the Chip Malfunctions?

Occasionally, a microchip may become faulty. In these rare cases, we implant a second microchip to ensure your puppy’s safety. When your puppy goes home, we’ll provide you with both microchip numbers so that, in the unlikely event one chip reactivates, you have all the necessary details on hand.

The Importance of Registration and Communication

Every microchip we purchase is directly linked to us here at Smeraglia Farm. In the rare event that a family doesn’t register their puppy’s microchip, and the dog goes missing, we can help. We have often worked with families and shelters to reunite them with their pets when a dog is picked up by animal control. Even without registration, we can cross-reference the microchip number with our system and find the family that the puppy belongs to. That’s why it’s so important for families to register their pet’s microchip.

Additionally, if you ever have to rehome your dog, it’s essential to let us know. This way, we can update our records with the new owner’s information, ensuring that the dog is always traceable to its new home. This simple step can make all the difference in keeping your dog safe.

Why Now?

As storm season approaches, it’s more important than ever to ensure your puppy’s microchip is registered. AKC Reunite has helped over 685,000 pets return home safely, and their service is active 24/7, 365 days a year. In the chaos of a storm, your pet could become disoriented or separated from you. But with a registered microchip, you have peace of mind knowing that your puppy can be traced back to you no matter where they are.

Take Action Today
If your puppy is already microchipped, ensure that their microchip is registered with up-to-date contact information. It’s easy to do through AKC Reunite. You can also order a collar tag linked to their microchip number for extra safety.

If your puppy isn’t microchipped yet, now is the time. Microchipping is a simple, inexpensive step to keep your pet safe, especially when facing extreme weather conditions.

For more information, visit AKC Reunite’s website and learn how their 24/7 service can bring peace of mind to you and your family. Remember, it’s not just about identifying your puppy—it’s about making sure they can be reunited with you when it matters most.

Stay safe, stay prepared, and give your doodle an extra cuddle today. We’ll always be here for you and your puppies.

Warmly,
Sherri Smeraglia