A Texas-based pet microchip registry called Save This Life unexpectedly stopped operating this week. Subsequently, the company was removed from the American Animal Hospital Association’s lookup tool.
This means scans of affected microchips will still show the chip number, but the owner contact information that used to be linked to that number may no longer be accessible through that registry.
Save This Life had been a widely used registration service with millions of pets registered. Many owners, vets, and rescues learned about the problem only after the database became unreachable. That gap in communication left shelters and clinics finding microchipped animals whose registry information no longer identified an owner.
The microchips still work
The good news is that the physical microchips themselves aren’t “dead.” A scanner will still read the chip’s identifier. However, the problem is the registry link. That’s the online record that says “This chip number belongs to Jane Smith, 555-555-5555.” It’s what shelters and vets rely on to reunite a lost pet with its owner. Because the company’s database went offline, vet clinics and shelters couldn’t retrieve owner details for affected chip numbers.
Veterinarians and animal welfare groups are urging owners to confirm registration status and transfer records where needed.
Pet owners are advised to get their pet scanned the next time they visit a vet, clinic, or animal shelter (even if traveling away from your home base). Ask for the chip number and the company name that shows up on the lookup. If it’s registered to Save This Life, treat that as an urgent “re-register” situation. You don’t need to re-implant a chip. Instead, move the existing chip number into a current, active registry. That way your contact information will be reachable nationwide. The American Animal Hospital Association’s microchip lookup tool can help identify which company a chip is (or was) registered with.
If your pet was affected, re-register with a reputable provider as soon as possible. Several established registries and microchip services are offering help. Re-registering links that existing chip number to a registry people and shelters actually use.
Tips for RVers with pets
Keep a travel file for each pet. While you’re on the road, keep a printed copy (and a photo) of the chip number, the microchip company listed on initial paperwork, vaccination/medical records, and a recent photo of your pet.
Store these documents in your RV’s glovebox or a dedicated pet folder. That way if you’re separated from your pet while traveling, the paperwork speeds up the reunion process at any shelter or clinic you encounter.
What to do
Visit a nearby shelter or vet to ask staff to scan your pet’s chip. See if they can find the AAHA lookup for the chip number. If it returns a defunct registry, ask them to assist you in registering the chip with an active provider on the spot.
Many clinics and rescues are proactively contacting owners whose records show the old registry. If you’re traveling through multiple states, make sure your updated registry entry includes a local contact plus your primary phone/email and a national contact method (cell or a friend/family member back home).
Re-chip?
The best move is to transfer the existing chip’s number into a working registry. Re-implanting creates unnecessary medical intervention and a duplicate identifier. Transferring the registration preserves the functioning identifier and restores the owner info. Vets and registries can guide you through transferring ownership and contact details without surgery.
Why did this happen?
Public records and reporting indicate the company’s Texas business registration became inactive for reasons tied to administrative or tax forfeiture. The company’s phone lines and email were unreachable when vets and industry groups tried to contact them.
The American Animal Hospital Association removed the company from its lookup tool after repeated failed searches.
Be proactive
Make a regular habit of checking your pets’ microchip registration any time you visit a clinic. If you depend on a national registry, verify contact details are current and consider adding a secondary contact.
When you change phone numbers, email addresses, or travel plans for longer stretches, update the registry right away. Owners who travel a lot (like RVers) should think of their pet’s microchip record the same way they think of roadside service or insurance. It’s best to confirm it’s in service before you depart.
Does the Save This Life microchip shutdown affect you and your pet? Tell us using the comments below.
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RVT1248b
Wow! Thank you for this information. I use PetHub.com. I added the chip numbers that were already implanted. They sell tags with a scanable (by phone) QR code that brings up your pets profile. They also register everytime the QR code is scanned. Hopefully, they won’t go out of business! My vet prints the chip number on the vaccination certificate so I always have it.