Good day to all my animal lovers out there. Today I am talking about microchipping and why it is important here in Bermuda.

A microchip is a tiny implant, about the size of a grain of rice, which is inserted via a needle into the scruff of the neck under the skin.

The microchip carries a one-of-a-kind number which is detected when a special scanner is waved over the animal’s scruff.

That number can be linked to the owner of the animal. The animal cannot feel the microchip once it is inserted.

The microchip does not carry the owner’s details such as names, addresses etc as many animals switch owners through their lives and once the microchip is inserted, it cannot be altered.

When you have your pet microchipped, the number is stored with the organisation that inserted the chip, along with your contact details.

Working as a vet in Bermuda I have seen countless animals who have, for some reason or other, been separated from their owner.

Some have jumped out of the car, some have been lost in a storm, others have been stolen, the list is endless.

The most satisfying thing for me is to run a scanner over their neck and find a microchip.

This means that they have an owner and we can start the search.

If you should lose your pet, you should contact the vets, animal shelters and animal wardens immediately to see if any stray animal has been found.

You can prove the animal is your beloved pet by quoting the microchip number.

I was recently contacted by a lady whose cat had gone missing but luckily she had had a microchip implanted when she was a kitten.

She was obviously extremely upset but I advised her to not lose hope, and to definitely keep looking for her.

Four months later her cat was found three parishes away from where she lived.

She was successfully identified by her microchip number and reunited with her ecstatic owner.

If your pet changes owners for any reason, it is important to contact the microchipping organisation and change the ownership details.

That way if they are lost, they can be reunited with their current owner.

It is mandatory in Bermuda for all dogs to be microchipped, but it is a very good idea to have your cats microchipped too in case they go missing.

Cats are more likely to roam than dogs, making good identification even more important.

Other forms of identification, such as collars and tags, can easily be removed or lost, but microchips are with that animal for life.

So if your pet is not yet microchipped, ask your vet for the best way to get it done, and ensure your pet comes home to you safe and sound.