We all hope that our pets will not escape the back yard or get lost somehow, but what happens if they do? The microchip required for your pets in Europe is a good step in the right direction, but their microchip needs to be registered with your contact information to ensure that they are returned to you. The German non-profit company Tasso is available for you to register your pets. The registration process takes less than 10 minutes. All you need is the microchip number and your contact information. Once you are registered, the company will send you some information in the mail, plus a tag to add to your pet’s collar. They will send a letter asking for a donation, but this is completely voluntary, the service itself is free.
If your pet ever goes missing, come back to this website and report them missing with any helpful information, like where they were last seen. Hopefully, someone will find your pet (there are volunteers linked to the website that will help in the search),take them to a vet to get screened for the microchip and you will be quickly reunited.
There are a few animal shelters where your pet may be taken.
Tierheim Heinsberg – Tierschutzverein f.d. Kreis Heinsberg e.V.
Stapperstr. 85, 52525 Heinsberg
Tel: 02452-7773
Their Facebook page will post missing animals when they are not registered with Tasso.
Dierenbescherming Limburg
Langereweg 9 Born, NL
The Dutch also have a similar pet finding service available at Amivedi or Mijndieriszoek. You can register your pet through Chipnummer.nl.
We bought a dog from a german breeder with a german chip. Breeder mentioned that most dogs are registered under TASSO, thus my inquiry. Would it be possible to register our dog with you while living in the USA (California)? Thanks in advance for your reply.
Martina Hauser
Unfortunately, there is no singular registry in the USA. I found two free websites that should allow you to register your pet for free.
https://microchipregistry.foundanimals.org/
https://www.freepetchipregistry.com/
Both websites say that any brand of microchip can be registered here. (Most American microchip brands also keep their own separate registry as well.) I also found a Microchip Lookup website that gives a list of what registries they search through at http://www.petmicrochiplookup.org/participating_companies.aspx for your reference. You may want to ask a local veterinarian once you relocate, just to make sure you put your pet in a registry that the vets will look into. I hope this helps. – Megan