For dogs, one of the best ways to make sure they get back home when they are lost is to have an up-to-date license. Learn how to license your dog here. If you have lost a pet, or found a lost pet, Washington County Animal Services has a page of resources, advice, and a lookup tool to see if your pet is at the shelter or if the found pet has been reported. You can also check to make sure the information connected to the license is correct here.

For dogs, cats, and other pets that might stray, having a microchip placed into your pet can be very helpful. Many people who find lost pets take them to a veterinary clinic or the shelter where the pet can be scanned to see if a chip is present. The chip has contact information for its owner.

If your pet isn’t microchipped, Animal Services recommends contacting a veterinary hospital or clinic. Prices can vary, so it can be helpful for people to call around to find the best deal for them. They provide a list of Washington County veterinarians and other community veterinary resources. including a link to options that are intended to be more affordable.

Animal Services notes that registering the microchip and/or verifying that the contact information associated with the chip is up to date is just as important as actually getting the chip into the pet. Many people assume the chip was registered for them by their veterinarian or the person/organization they got their pet from, but that’s not always the case.

To register a microchip, or verify the contact information associated with it, find your pet’s microchip number. This number may be in your veterinary records or adoption paperwork. If you can’t find the number, your veterinarian’s office can scan your pet for the chip. You can also stop by the Bonnie Hays Animal Shelter with your pet, and they will scan it and provide the number. Then go to PetMicrochipLookup.org and enter the microchip number. This database from the American Animal Hospital Association will provide you with the company to contact regarding the chip. Call or go to the microchip company’s website to register the chip or update your information. There is usually a fee to register the chip. You may want to create a secondary registration for the chip on a website like 24PetWatch.com. We can also add your pet’s microchip information to our records at Animal Services at no cost.

The Oregon Veterinary Medical Association has a page of useful information about animal identification and lost pet advice.