The Misadventures of Coco: The Importance of Keeping Microchip Details Up-to-Date

Microchipping is an important part of responsible dog and cat ownership. The small, rice-sized microchip is implanted between the shoulder blades and, when scanned, displays a unique identification number. This number is registered on a database that links it to the owner’s contact details. If a cat or dog goes missing, a vet clinic, council, or animal shelter can use a microchip scanner to read the number and then access the owner’s information on the database.

Getting your cat or dog microchipped is an important step. However, ensuring that your contact details are updated is equally important but often overlooked. If your contact details haven’t been updated when you get a new phone number or move to a new address, it significantly reduces the chances of being reunited with your pet if they get lost.

When you buy or take ownership of a cat or dog, making sure the microchip registration is transferred to your name is also crucial.

Microchipping is a permanent form of identification that is a legal requirement in South Australia through the Dog and Cat Management Board.

A Heartwarming Reunion

Coco was welcomed into his new family’s home as a puppy in 2016. He came to our clinic for his puppy vaccinations when it was under the ownership of Dr. Michael Burke. However, in a tagic turn of events, Coco was stolen from the front yard when he was just 18 months old.

He had been barking in the front yard, and neighbours reported hearing a car, followed by silence as the barking stopped. The fence was too high for him to jump over, the gate (that only people can open) was closed, and there was no sign of escape.

Devastated, Coco’s owners searched for him. They contacted the local council, veterinary clinics, and shelters. They posted flyers and spoke to neighbours. Unfortunately, they could not find him. There were reports of other dogs in the area also mysteriously going missing.

After twelve months with no sign of Coco and missing the companionship that only a dog can provide, they decided to get another puppy, who they named Harry.

Now, imagine their shock when over FIVE YEARS later, they received a call from a veterinary clinic in the Gawler region, claiming that Coco was there, alive and well. They were in disbelief and assumed it was a mistake. The owners raced to the veterinary clinic, and sure enough, there was Coco, five years older than when they last saw him.

So, what happened and where had he been for five years? Well, that remains a mystery – if only Coco could talk! What the owners do know is that a member of the public saw Coco running in a field during a storm. Presumably, he had escaped from wherever he had been living, frightened by the thunder.

The lovely person caught Coco and took him to the nearest vet, where he was scanned for a microchip. Fortunately, Coco’s owners’ contact details were up-to-date on the microchip registry.

When Coco’s owners arrived at the veterinary clinic for their reunion, Coco leapt up on his hind legs and began dancing (as reenacted by Coco).

Not only was Coco reunited with his rightful family, but he also had a new brother, Harry!

Given the circumstances, Coco was in pretty good condition except for a sore around his neck from a collar and a skin infection. He was also covered in prickles and mud from his wild weather adventure.

Dr Michael Burke had since retired, and Paws At Prospect Vet had taken over the practice. The owners brought Coco to us for a health check, and he was given antibiotics to clear up his skin infection.

As of 2025, he has been back with his long-lost owners for two years now and hasn’t stopped dancing.

How To Keep Microchip Details Up-To-Date

The most important message from this situation is that Coco’s owners kept their contact details up-to-date on the microchip registry, which is how the veterinary clinic was able to find them. If they hadn’t, they might never have seen Coco again.

South Australia has a unique council registration system for dogs and cats, and it’s important to ensure your pet is registered on Dogs And Cats Online. However, this is a South Australian database and cannot be accessed from other states. If your pet goes missing interstate or is stolen and taken across state lines, facilities in those states will not have access to your details on the SA council register. Therefore, registering with a national database is also advisable. National databases include Central Animal Records, Australasian Animal Registry, PetSafe, and Global Micro.

How To Register & Update Contact Details:

• Visit Dogs and Cats Online to ensure the contact details for your dog or cat are securely recorded with the council
• Log on to the website or contact the national database that your pet is registered with and update your contact details
• If you don’t know which database the microchip is registered to, enter the number on Pet Address