AUGUSTA, Ga. — A major pet microchip company has abruptly shut down, erasing a crucial database that helped reunite lost pets with their owners. The sudden disappearance of Save This Life has left pet owners scrambling to ensure their furry companions remain protected.
A Vanishing Lifeline for Pet Owners
For years, Save This Life provided pet owners with a secure way to register their pets’ microchips. If a pet went missing, shelters, veterinarians, and animal control officers could access the database to identify the registered owner. But now, with the company shutting its doors without warning, that safety net is gone.
Initially, the problem seemed isolated to the West Coast, where the company had a large customer base. However, reports have surfaced from veterinary offices in the Southeast, confirming that tens of thousands of pets are now untraceable in the system. Stand for Animals, a nonprofit veterinary clinic in Charlotte, North Carolina, revealed that more than 30,000 pets they microchipped are now effectively unregistered.
“It’s like their numbers don’t exist anymore,” said Austin Webb, assistant manager at the clinic. “The database is just gone.”
What Pet Owners Can Do Now
While the sudden shutdown has created panic, pet owners have options to safeguard their pets. Fortunately, microchips themselves remain functional, meaning pet owners do not need to get a new chip implanted. Instead, they must take action to re-register their pet’s chip in an active database.
Here’s how to update your pet’s microchip registration:
- Find the microchip number: Check vet records or ask a veterinarian to scan your pet’s chip.
- Look up the number: Use the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) lookup tool to check if the chip is still registered.
- Re-register if needed: If the chip is linked to Save This Life or is unregistered, owners should register with another reputable database like HomeAgain, AKC Reunite, or PetLink.
This process takes only a few minutes but could be crucial if a pet ever gets lost.
Impact on Shelters and Veterinarians
Animal shelters and veterinary clinics are also feeling the effects of the database shutdown. Shelters rely on microchip registrations to quickly identify lost pets and contact their owners. Without access to Save This Life’s records, many facilities may struggle to reunite pets with their families.
Local veterinary offices in Augusta and Aiken have reported minimal use of Save This Life’s services, offering some relief to pet owners in those areas. However, clinics across the country are urging pet owners to double-check their registrations to avoid any surprises.
“This is a wake-up call,” said Dr. Lisa Morgan, a veterinarian in Charlotte. “People assume that once a microchip is in, their pet is protected forever. But databases can disappear. Owners need to be proactive.”
A Larger Issue in Pet Microchipping
The collapse of Save This Life highlights a broader issue within the pet microchipping industry: the lack of a centralized registry. Unlike vehicle registrations, pet microchips do not have a universal database. Instead, multiple companies operate independently, meaning if one goes under, records can vanish.
A comparison of major microchip registries shows just how fragmented the system is:
| Microchip Registry | Status | Accessibility |
|---|---|---|
| HomeAgain | Active | Nationwide |
| AKC Reunite | Active | Nationwide |
| PetLink | Active | Nationwide |
| Save This Life | Defunct | No longer accessible |
Industry experts argue that a universal registration system would prevent such problems. Until then, pet owners must take responsibility for ensuring their pets’ microchip information remains up to date.
Final Advice for Pet Owners
If you’re unsure whether your pet’s microchip is registered with an active database, a quick trip to the vet can provide clarity. Most veterinarians can scan a chip in seconds and confirm whether it’s properly registered. Given the uncertainty surrounding private microchip companies, checking your pet’s registration should be as routine as an annual check-up.
For now, Save This Life’s sudden disappearance serves as a harsh reminder: microchips only work if the registration is accessible. And in the digital age, even a small oversight can have big consequences.
