Those who rely upon microchips to reunite pets and owners have voiced concerns about a type of ISO chip that begins with these three numbers: 900 (nine-zero-zero).

The concerns are centered around ease of tracking the chip back to the maker/distributor.  There are over 70 companies who share the 900 codes, meaning they all start with 900.  By contrast, about 20 companies have earned an unshared code, such as 933, 985, 965, making them easier to track to the source because they are unique.

Therefore, we provide advice as follows:

It is more difficult to quickly track a shared code 900 chip to their overseas and/or out-of-reach manufacturers. If a pet has a ‘900’ chip, it MUST be registered in a database so the owner can be quickly contacted.

Many vendors of 900 shared code chips acknowledge that they cannot track the chips they sell. Most, not all, of these vendors do not participate in the national pet tracking system. If you decide to use chips beginning with the 900 code, contact the maker and ask the hard questions: Failure rate, sterilization process, readability, conformance with standards, distributors, etc.

Irresponsible microchip manufacturing and/or record keeping can threaten the tried-and-true dependable system that pet owners and care-givers in the United States have come to rely upon.

Microchip ID Systems, Inc. Position: there is a clear responsibility that comes with the manufacturing and sale of microchips for animals.  Microchips should always be trackable to a source.  Company or vendor contact information should be available. A real time, live Call Center is mandatory.