However, these statistics are drastically different where the dog has been microchipped. More than 50% of microchipped dogs are returned home.

And further research reveals that only 60% of microchipped dogs are registered in a database with the owner’s contact information, making nearly half of the chips ineffective in getting dogs back to their owners and home.

The rule should be that adopted dogs must be microchipped and their adopters must register them with their current contact information including the rescue organisation as the second contact. This way, if the dog becomes lost and the microchip doesn’t have current contact information, the Saving Hope organisation is notified.

In addition to microchipping, always put a collar and an identification tag on all dogs, before they go to their new homes. Dogs in foster care and those attending adoption events should also wear collars with full identification.