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Does a microchip track location? No. A pet microchip has no battery and no GPS. It's a tiny ID that a vet, shelter or animal services scanner reads to get a number, and that number gets matched to your contact details in a registry. It helps someone bring your pet home once your pet is found, but it can't tell you where your pet is.
Lots of people are surprised by that, usually at the worst possible moment. A GPS tracker is the thing that shows you where your pet's gone; it sits on the collar. Below we'll cover how each one works, what each is actually good for, and the one step that makes a microchip useful at all: keeping its registration up to date.
How a pet microchip works
A pet microchip works as a passive ID, the Ontario SPCA explains, meaning it has no battery inside. It's about the size of a grain of rice, and it goes under the skin without anesthesia. The Ontario SPCA says that's no more painful for a pet than a flu shot is for you.
When a scanner passes over it, the scanner powers the chip and reads out its ID number. That number, on its own, says nothing about you. It only leads home if the chip is registered in a database with your current phone number and address.
A microchip is only as good as its registration. An unregistered chip, or one with an old phone number, cannot bring your pet home.
Does a microchip track location? What it can and cannot do
Does a microchip track location? The Ontario SPCA is blunt about it: microchips can't be used as tracking devices. They're a form of identification that a veterinarian, shelter or animal control officer checks with a scanner. Here's how that stacks up against a GPS tracker.
| Question | Microchip | GPS tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Shows where my pet is right now? | No | Yes, while it has power and signal |
| Needs charging? | No battery at all | Yes |
| Can fall off or be removed? | No, it is under the skin | Yes, with the collar |
| How it helps | Someone who finds your pet scans it and contacts you | You find your pet yourself |
| What makes it work | A current registration in the chip's database | A charged device and, usually, a subscription |
| Lasts | For your pet's life, if registered | As long as the device and plan last |
Microchip or GPS tracker: do you need both?
You might want both, because they fix different problems. A microchip is permanent proof of who your pet belongs to, even after the collar's gone. A GPS tracker helps you find a pet who slipped out, in those first hours before anyone else spots them.
Which matters more depends on your pet. Indoor cats are famous for losing collars, so for them the chip carries most of the weight; a GPS tag only helps if it was on when they got out. A dog who bolts, or hikes off leash in the ravines, may be worth a tracker on top of the chip. And every pet should wear a visible ID tag or licence tag, so a neighbour can call you without needing a scanner.
Shopping for a tracker? Check how it reports location, how long the battery really lasts, whether there's a monthly plan, and whether it sits comfortably on your pet.
Three common microchip myths
The most common microchip myth is that the chip holds your address. It doesn't. It holds an ID number, and your details live in the registry, which is exactly why updating them matters.
Another is that your vet registered it for you. Maybe. Don't assume it, though. Ask, or check with the chip company yourself, especially if your pet came from a shelter, a rescue or a previous owner.
The last one is that a found pet gets scanned right away. That only happens if someone takes your pet to a vet clinic, shelter or animal services. Plenty of found pets spend a night on a neighbour's couch first, and a visible tag or licence lets that neighbour reach you.
Keep the registration current
The Ontario SPCA and the City of Toronto both say the same thing: contact your microchip provider and keep your contact information up to date, especially after a move or a new phone number.
- Find your pet's microchip number on adoption papers or vet records, or ask your vet to scan it.
- Look up which company the chip is registered with, and log in or call them.
- Check your name, phone numbers, email and address.
- Add a second contact who will answer if you cannot.
- Set a reminder to check it once a year.
The free PetGrid app keeps your pet's microchip number with the rest of your pet's records, and reminders can nudge you about that yearly check.
If your pet goes missing in Toronto
If your pet goes missing in Toronto, the City says to report it to Toronto Animal Services at 416-338-PAWS (7297) or 311, with your licence number, microchip number and a photo. It also suggests searching your neighbourhood, putting up flyers at vet offices, shelters and community boards, checking the city's online stray list for animals found in the last 14 days, and visiting shelters in person.
In the PetGrid app, lost mode gives you a public page with your pet's photo and how to reach you, plus a printable poster with a QR code. It never shows the microchip number. Our guide on what to do if your pet is lost has the full checklist.
Questions fréquentes
Can you track a pet with a microchip?
No. A microchip has no battery or GPS and can't be used as a tracking device. It stores an ID number that a scanner reads when someone finds your pet.
How does a microchip help find a lost pet?
When a vet clinic, shelter or animal services scans your found pet, the chip shows an ID number. The registry links that number to your contact details, so keeping them current is essential.
Does a microchip need a battery?
No. The Ontario SPCA explains that a microchip is passive and is powered by the scanner only while it's being read.
Does microchipping hurt my pet?
The Ontario SPCA says implanting a microchip is no more painful for a pet than a flu shot is for a person, and it's done without anesthesia. Ask your vet if you're worried.
Should I get a GPS tracker if my pet is microchipped?
It depends on your pet. A microchip identifies your pet once they're found, while a GPS tracker helps you find them yourself, so dogs who bolt or roam may benefit from both.
En bref
So, does a microchip track location? No. It's still one of the most reliable ways to get a lost pet home, though, because it can't fall off and it lasts for life. Keep the registration current, add a visible tag, and think about a GPS tracker if your pet is a runner.
The PetGrid app is free for pet owners and keeps the microchip number, records and lost mode ready on your phone. The owner FAQ has more.
Gardez les dossiers, les vaccins et les visites de votre animal dans un seul endroit sûr. L'application PetGrid est gratuite pour les propriétaires d'animaux, avec ou sans clinique.
Get the free PetGrid appSources
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