Created in partnership by Closer Pets and identibase — two companies with a shared belief that every pet deserves to find their way home. Closer Pets designs intelligent, automated solutions that support happier, healthier routines for pets and their people. identibase is one of the UK’s trusted DEFRA-compliant pet microchip databases. Together, we want to make sure you have everything you need to keep your pet safe, starting with the facts. As part of this partnership, Closer Pets and identibase are delighted to offer you 15% off Closer Pets with the code IDENTIBASE15.
Microchipping your pet is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do to protect them. For dog owners in England, Scotland and Wales, it’s also been a legal requirement since 2016. And since June 2024, cat owners in England are required to chip their cats too.
If you’ve heard horror stories about microchipping, or come across some of the wilder conspiracy theories online, read on. We’re here to set the record straight, and to highlight something just as important as the chip itself: making sure your pet’s database record is accurate and up to date.
Myth 1: Microchips can track your pets location
Not true. Microchips contain a serial number and that’s it. There’s no GPS, no tracking mechanism and no hidden agenda. A pet microchip has one job: to help reunite a pet with their owner if they go missing.
If real-time tracking is what you’re after, GPS trackers are a separate product that work alongside a microchip — but the two technologies are completely different. Closer Pets offers a range of microchip-compatible products, but the chip itself is purely an identification tool. Think of it as your pet’s permanent ID: always there, impossible to remove or lose.
Myth 2: The chip contains your name, address and phone number
Not true. A microchip contains a unique serial number and nothing more. That number links to a secure, DEFRA-compliant database such as identibase, where your contact details are held.
Access to that database is strictly controlled. Vets, the police, local councils, dog wardens and registered rescue organisations can look up a chip number to trace an owner but the chip itself holds no personal information at all. Your data stays protected.
One question both Closer Pets and identibase hear regularly is: ‘I’ve moved, do I need to update my chip?’ The answer is that you need to update your details on the database — not on the chip. The chip never changes. And telling your vet your new address doesn’t automatically update the database — that’s something only you can do, and it’s your legal responsibility to keep it current. Visit identibase to find out which database stores your pet's microchip record.
Myth 3: Once my pet is chipped, I’m done
Not true — and this is the myth that catches the most people out. Getting your pet microchipped is an essential first step, but the chip itself is just a number. That number only leads back to you if it’s linked to your current contact details on a DEFRA-compliant database — and keeping those details accurate is your ongoing responsibility.
There are several approved pet microchip databases in the UK, and your pet could be registered on any one of them, depending on where and when they were chipped. Many owners have no idea which one holds their pet’s record — and some have never completed their registration at all.
Legally, if your contact details are missing or out of date, your pet can be treated as effectively unchipped — even if the chip is there.
This is exactly why Closer Pets and identibase have partnered on this piece. identibase makes it straightforward to find out which database holds your pet’s record, check that your details are correct, and update anything that’s changed with identibase’s chip checker tool. Moved house? New phone number? A few minutes on identibase now could be the difference between being reunited with your pet or not.
Myth 4: Microchipping hurts my pet
Not true. We completely understand the instinct to protect your pet from any unnecessary discomfort — but there’s genuinely nothing to worry about here.
The chip is placed at the back of the neck using a fine needle; the same spot a mother cat or dog uses to carry her young. Most pets don’t react at all. At worst, it’s the same brief pinch as a vaccination.
Once it’s in, the chip sits quietly by the muscle. Your pet will never know it’s there, but you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing they can always be identified if they go missing.
Myth 5: My pet has a collar, so doesn’t need a chip
Not true, and it’s worth being clear on this, because collars and microchips are two separate legal requirements that work together, not instead of each other. Dogs in England, Scotland and Wales must be microchipped and must wear a collar and tag showing the owner’s name and address when in a public place.
Collars can fall off during play or exploration, and unfortunately there are people who steal pets and remove their collar deliberately. The chip stays put, regardless.
The collar tells someone your pet’s name. The microchip, linked to an accurate record on a database like identibase, tells them how to find you. Both matter. Neither replaces the other.
Myth 6: The microchip is useless once the battery runs out
Not true. Microchips don’t have batteries, or any power source at all. They’re completely passive devices with no moving parts and nothing to wear out or go wrong.
A scanner held near your pet emits a small radio signal that powers the chip just long enough to transmit its number. That’s all there is to it; simple, reliable technology that should last your pet’s entire lifetime.
Myth 7: I keep my pet indoors, so they don’t need a microchip
Not true. In England, all dogs and cats must be microchipped by law, regardless of whether they go outdoors. In Scotland and Wales, dogs must be chipped too. Cat microchipping isn’t yet a legal requirement outside England — but wherever you are in the UK, we’d strongly encourage it.
Indoor pets go missing more often than people expect. A startled cat can dart through an open window. A dog can bolt from an open door in seconds. It’s in their nature to explore — the chip is your safety net if they do.
Myth 8: Microchips can move around and cause harm
Mostly not true. A chip can migrate slightly beneath the skin over time but it causes no harm or pain. It’s the size of a grain of rice, with no sharp edges, no moving parts and no power source. There’s simply nothing there that could hurt your pet.
Myth 9: Microchipping is expensive
Not true. Microchipping typically costs between £20 and £30, depending on your location and who carries out the procedure. Many charities and rescue organisations offer it at a reduced rate and some provide it free of charge for those who need it.
If your pet is being neutered, vets will often microchip at the same time, which can bring the cost down further, and since your pet is already under anaesthetic, there’s nothing for them to feel at all.
One thing to be aware of: some databases charge a small annual fee while others offer a one-off lifetime registration. identibase is transparent about its terms, so it’s worth checking what’s included when you register.
The benefits of microchipping your pets
With the myths out of the way, here’s what microchipping actually gives you.
You’re on the right side of the law
- Dogs in England, Scotland and Wales must be microchipped by 8 weeks of age. The fine for non-compliance is up to £500.
- Cats in England must be microchipped by 20 weeks of age (this came into force on 10 June 2024). The fine for non-compliance is up to £500.
- Cat microchipping is not yet a legal requirement in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, but we strongly recommend it wherever you are.
- Dogs must also wear a collar and tag displaying the owner’s name and address in a public place. The microchip does not replace this requirement.
Beyond the law, it’s simply the right thing to do.
A real chance of getting your pet back if they go missing
There are thousands of stories of owners being reunited with their pets, sometimes weeks or even months after they went missing, because of a microchip. It’s an extraordinary feeling, and it happens because someone scanned a chip and found accurate contact details on the other end.
But that only works if the record is right. A chip linked to an old address or a disconnected number leads nowhere. That’s why identibase encourages every pet owner to check their record regularly, not just when the chip is first implanted, but whenever their details change. It takes minutes, and it means that if the worst ever happens, there’s a clear path back to you.
Microchip-enabled products that make life easier
Once your pet is chipped, their unique chip number can do more than just identify them. Closer Pets designs products that use that number to make everyday pet ownership easier and more secure.
Microchip cat flaps let your pet come and go freely while keeping other animals out — no more unwanted visitors at 3am, and no more draughts. Microchip pet feeders open only for the pet they’re set up for — brilliant if you have multiple pets with different dietary needs, or one who has a habit of finishing everyone else’s dinner.
Microchipping is the single most reliable way to be reunited with a lost pet. But it only works when the record behind the chip is complete and accurate, and that part is down to you.
If your pet isn’t chipped yet, speak to your vet. If they are chipped, take a few minutes today to find out which database they’re on and make sure your details are current — identibase makes it easy. And when you’re ready to make the most of your pet’s chip, don’t forget to use the code IDENTIBASE15 at checkout for your 15% discount on the Closer Pets website — a small thank-you from both of us.