Why Microchips cannot track your pet!

If you’ve ever owned a cat or a dog, then you’ll understand just how stressful and worrying it can be to even think of your pet going missing. That’s why most pet owners choose to take the best precautions they can in keeping their animals safe. That can mean anything from a named collar to getting their shots, to, perhaps the most important step, getting your pet microchipped.

As the title of this article suggests, there’s one major misconception when it comes to microchips; they aren’t GPS trackers.

In the age of smartphones, we’re used to the idea that a little bit of technology can do, if not anything, then certainly almost anything we need it to. After all, pretty much any of your devices can tell you where you are at any time, so why can’t a microchip function as a GPS tracker?

Well, as you no doubt guessed, it’s a little more complicated than that.

The microchips that are currently available are essentially digital serial codes. They are a modern, safer, and more versatile equivalent to a traditional cat or dog collar. This means that if your pet goes missing and gets taken to a vet, they can scan the microchip and find out where they live and how to contact you.

These microchips have been around for a while and are now so commonplace that the UK has recently passed a law making a legal requirement for cats to be microchipped, which will come into force in 2023.

According to a GOV.UK press release, “99% of people support compulsory microchipping” while “eight out of 10 stray cats coming to Cats Protection’s centres are not microchipped.”

That’s all well and good then, but why can’t you just have an app connected to a microchip that functions as a dog tracker?

The real problem here is technology.

With present technology, it’s almost impossible–not to mention prohibitively expensive– to build a GPS tracker small enough to go under the skin.

While the tracker itself can be small, it needs a power supply to function and, in practical terms, that means a battery. As a rule, the size of a battery correlates to its power storage capabilities and any battery small enough not to inconvenience your pet would also need to be regularly recharged. 

While the technology does not yet exist to build either a dog or cat tracker that can go under the skin, there’s still a way to get extra peace of mind. There are options for dog GPS trackers and cat GPS trackers on the market. The Safer Pet GPS pet tracker is both the smallest and lightest option currently on the market. This handy little device will help you rest easy in the knowledge that your pet is safe without being cumbersome or uncomfortable for the animal to wear.

Owning pets is one of the most joyful experiences you can have, so keep them as safe as possible at all times!