FAQs

What is HomeAgain?

HomeAgain is an advanced lost pet recovery service dedicated to the safety and well-being of your pet. Our system is best utilized when a microchip with a unique ID number is injected between the shoulder blades of your pet, which can be done by a veterinarian if your pet is not already microchipped. Once your pet is microchipped, the next step is to enroll your pet's microchip ID, description, and photo, along with your contact information, in HomeAgain's pet database, which is critical to reuniting you immediately with your lost pet once he is found.

Once enrolled, your pet is entitled to all the additional benefits of the HomeAgain annual membership, including:

• unlimited updates to your pet or contact information online or by phone
• 24/7 access to our lost pet hotline
• Rapid Lost Pet Alerts and Lost Pet Posters
• Lost Pet Medical Insurance for Lost Dogs or Cats
• 24/7 access to the Pet Medical Emergency Hotline
• Travel Assistance for Found Dogs or Cats
• and more

I am planning an international vacation with my pet. What do I need to know?

The following are some helpful links for determining what you need to do in order to take your pet to another country.

• National Center for Import and Export (NCIE) A part of the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), this organization regulates the import and export of animals in the US.
• USDA Pet Export Information From the NCIE, this page contains specific information - including general instructions and links to further information - about the procedures for taking pets abroad.
• Regulations by Country This page contains links to regulations in place in more than 100 countries.

Does my pet have to be microchipped with a HomeAgain® brand microchip in order to utilize the HomeAgain service?

No – pets with any brand of microchip may enroll in the HomeAgain service.

How do I enroll with HomeAgain?

You can enroll with HomeAgain through our website or by calling 1-888-HomeAgain [1-888-466-3242].

If your pet is not microchipped, find a vet in your area and ask them to implant your pet with the HomeAgain® microchip. The next step then is to enroll your pet. Once your pet is enrolled, you'll have access to the portfolio of services provided by HomeAgain to keep your pet safe and sound.

My pet is already microchipped, but how do I know if he is enrolled?

Look up your pet's HomeAgain membership status. You'll be asked to enter your pet's microchip ID.

It's great to know my pet can be scanned for a microchip if he's taken to a shelter. But what other services does HomeAgain provide to help locate my pet?

HomeAgain is a proactive pet recovery service that actively helps you look for your pet. Once informed of a missing pet, HomeAgain immediately sends out Rapid Lost Pet Alerts to veterinarians and shelters surrounding the area in which your pet was lost. HomeAgain also supplies you with an easy-to-personalize “Lost Pet” poster that you can print and post in the neighborhood. And with HomeAgain, Lost Pet Specialists are always available to help you, 24/7.

Does HomeAgain really work?

Today, more than 6.5 million pets are enrolled with HomeAgain. Since we began, HomeAgain is responsible for reuniting more than 600,000 lost pets with their owners. Read our stories of found pets.

What if my pet is found and I am unreachable at the contact number on file with HomeAgain?

When you enroll your pet, we will ask you to provide contact information for an alternate, like a relative, close friend, or a veterinarian, in case you are unreachable when your pet is found. HomeAgain will call the alternate contact if you cannot be reached. It is critical that you keep your contact information - as well as the contact information for your alternate contact - up-to-date with HomeAgain.

What if my pet is turned in at a shelter that isn't equipped with a scanner?

Virtually all veterinarians and shelters (over 50,000 nationally) are equipped to scan your pet should he become lost.

Is it safe for my pet to have a microchip, a foreign object, inside his body?

Veterinarians have been implanting microchips in animals for years, and the process has been proven to be very safe. The microchip is made out of an inert, biocompatible substance, which means it won't cause an allergic reaction or degenerate over time. In addition, HomeAgain® is the only microchip on the market today that has the Bio-Bond™ patented anti-migration feature to help ensure that the microchip stays in place. Extensive testing and long-term use have shown the HomeAgain microchip is a safe and permanent method of identification for pets.

My pet always wears a collar with an identification tag. Is microchipping really necessary?

All pets should wear collar tags with their name and the phone number of their owner or veterinarian. Tags, though, may become worn and impossible to read or may slip off. Collars themselves can break or slip off. Tattooing pets with a number is another method of identifying pets; however, veterinarians and pet rescue experts say tattoos can blur over time, and they can be altered. A microchip is the only form of pet identification that is permanent, with a unique number that cannot be altered or removed.

My cat never goes outside. Does she really need a microchip ID?

It's wonderful that you're keeping your pet safe inside, but a guest or a handyman could easily leave the door open, or a screen could come loose from an open window. There's also a possibility that your house could be damaged in a heavy storm, flood, or other natural disaster, causing your cat to run away in fear. Pets can even be stolen - particularly exotics or purebred animals. No matter how closely you watch your favorite animal friend, there's always a chance they can get out, and if they don't have any ID, they will be extremely hard to find.

Is the procedure to implant the microchip expensive?

While the price can vary from one veterinarian to another, implanting the microchip costs around $45. This is a one-time fee; the microchip does not need maintenance or replacement. In addition, there is an annual fee of $16.99 for your pet's HomeAgain membership.

Will the microchip ever wear out or have to be replaced?

The microchip doesn't have an internal battery or power source. In fact, most of the time it's inactive. When the microchip scanner is passed over it, the microchip gets enough power from the scanner to transmit the pet's ID number. Since there's no battery and no moving parts, there's nothing to wear out or replace. The microchip will last your pet's lifetime.

How big is the microchip?

The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice (12mm). You cannot see the microchip after it is implanted under the skin of your dog or cat.

How are pets microchipped?

Your veterinarian will implant the microchip in your pet. The procedure is simple and similar to administering a vaccine or a routine shot. The microchip comes preloaded in a sterile applicator and is injected under the loose skin between the shoulder blades. The process takes only a few seconds, and your pet will not react any more than he would to a vaccination. No anesthetic is required.

Why is microchipping the preferred method of identifying pets?

All pets should wear collar tags imprinted with their name and the phone number of their owner or veterinarian. Tags, though, may become worn and impossible to read or may slip off. Tattooing pets with a number is another method of identifying pets; however, veterinarians and pet rescue experts say tattoos can blur over time, and they can be altered. A microchip is the only form of pet identification that is permanent, with a unique number that cannot be altered or removed.

How do I know that my pet's microchip ID number will remain unique to him?

With all the possible combinations of product codes and ID numbers, there are more than enough numbers to make sure every pet has a completely unique number. These tiny microchips are designed to produce 275 billion different ID numbers. On top of that, microchip manufacturers add unique product codes and manufacturer's codes to identify their microchips. Rest assured, your pet will always have an ID number all his own.

What is a HomeAgain Ultimate Pet ID Tag (green tag)?

A HomeAgain Ultimate Pet ID Tag (green tag) is a pet ID tag that has a unique ID number. Pets with a HomeAgain Ultimate Pet ID Tag (green tag) may enroll in the HomeAgain service without a microchip. A HomeAgain Ultimate Pet ID Tag (green tag) provides your pet with a unique ID number that can be called into HomeAgain should your pet go missing. Microchipping, however, is the preferred method of pet identification since microchipping is permanent and the microchip cannot fall off or be removed by someone trying to conceal the identity of your pet.

Is the HomeAgain Ultimate Pet ID Tag (green tag) as effective as microchipping my pet?

Each HomeAgain Ultimate Pet ID Tag (green tag) contains has a unique ID number that can be used to identify your missing pet. Once you enroll, the collar tag entitles you to all the same benefits and services that you get with the HomeAgain microchip. The main difference is that the microchip is a more permanent solution than the Ultimate Pet ID Tag (green tag).

When I had my pet microchipped with HomeAgain, my vet gave me a collar tag with my pet's microchip ID on it. How do I get a new one?

Purchase a new collar tag for your pet. We sell a variety of sizes and styles right on our website.

What browser do I need to be able to use the HomeAgain portal?

The HomeAgain portal is compatible with IE 6.0+ and Firefox 1.5+ The system requires that Cookies and JavaScript are enabled.

What's unique about the HomeAgain WorldScan™ scanner?

The HomeAgain WorldScan™ scanner reads all known microchips that are currently sold in the U.S., including the 125 kHz (non-encrypted), 125 kHz (encrypted) 128 kHz, and 134.2 kHz radio frequencies.