Notify the Microchip Company, Rescue, and Animal Control
- Mandy Sperrey
- Nov 30, 2025
- 2 min read
When a pet goes missing, time matters and some of the most important steps happen before you even start searching. Notifying the right organizations immediately can dramatically increase the chances of a fast reunion. Here’s what to do first.
1. Contact the Microchip Company
If your pet is microchipped, reach out to the microchip company right away. This allows them to flag your pet as missing and alert you if the chip is scanned.
When contacting the company:
Report your pet as missing
Verify your phone number, email, and address
Add a trusted alternate contact, in case you can’t answer your phone
If you aren’t sure who your pet’s microchip is registered with, you can look it up at petmicrochiplookup.org using the microchip number.
Not sure what the microchip number is?
Check your adoption paperwork
Ask the rescue or shelter your pet came from
Call your veterinarian, many keep microchip records on file
TRAPS offers free microchip scanning at many of our community events, which is a great way to confirm your pet’s chip number and make sure your contact information is correct before your pet ever gets lost.
2. Notify the Rescue or Shelter Your Pet Came From
If your pet was adopted, your rescue or shelter can be an invaluable resource.
Why this matters:
They keep records of whether pets were owner surrenders, strays, trapped, or transferred, information that can give insight into how a pet may behave when lost.
Many rescues maintain logs of pets they’ve microchipped, which means the rescue may be contacted if the chip is scanned.
Rescues often have volunteers and foster networks who can help share your missing-pet information.
It’s common for rescues to help spread the word or coordinate with local groups on your behalf.
3. Contact Animal Control and Local Shelters
Reach out to animal control and shelters in your county AND neighboring counties. Lost pets are frequently picked up by well-meaning people and transported across city or county lines.
Here’s how to file reports locally:
Chatham County (GA): File a lost pet report at Chatham90.org.
Effingham County: Email a photo, detailed description, last-known location, and your contact information to AnimalShelter@effinghamcounty.org.
Bryan County: Call the county shelter to report your missing pet.
If you’re not sure about your county’s process, call your local shelter or animal control. They’ll guide you through it.
And remember, don’t stop at your own county. Pets can travel far, especially if someone tries to “help” by taking them somewhere they think is safer.
4. A Quick Reality Check About Microchips
Microchips are not GPS trackers. They can’t show you where your pet is. A successful reunion depends on:
Someone finding your pet
That person taking them to be scanned
The microchip company having your correct information
This is why updating your info and notifying the company immediately is critical.
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