AKC Companion Animal Recovery: Fast Facts

• The American Kennel Club (AKC) established the Companion Animal Recovery (CAR) program as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) affiliate organization in 1995.
• CAR is dedicated to providing lifetime recovery services for all microchipped and tattooed animals 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year. CAR also enrolls those without permanent identification via a CAR collar tag program.
• CAR serves as a national database for microchipped pets, where a pet’s ID number and contact information (owner's address and telephone number, alternate contacts, etc.) are safely stored and used to contact the owner when the pet is reported found.
• Over 3.9 million microchipped or tattooed pets are enrolled and over 360,000 pets have been returned home to date.
• In March, 2007, CAR began offering the AKC CAR ID System microchip in order to increase the number of pets recovered if lost. CAR also began offering a scanner that can detect all microchips distributed in the U.S.
• The microchip contains a unique ID code that permanently links an owner to their pet, if ever it is lost.
• Microchips are about the size of a grain of rice and are easily implanted by a licensed veterinarian or veterinary technician.
• Microchips are NOT tracking devices. Instead, each microchip contains a unique, encoded identification number. The only way to 'read' the number is to scan over the microchip with a reader, which shelters and veterinarians use regularly to scan pets for microchip ID.
• The one-time enrollment fee is $19.95 per pet if enrolled using the paper form or $17.50 if the enrollment is completed online. Each enrollment includes lifetime recovery services as well as a collar tag containing the pet’s ID number and CAR’s recovery hotline number.
• All animal species can be enrolled in CAR, regardless of age or size. The only requirement is that they have a unique ID – microchip, tattoo, or CAR collar tag.
• To ensure recovery, keep CAR updated with any contact information changes. Updates are free and can be made online at www.akccar.org or by phone, fax or e-mail.
• Many recovered pets are identified by their CAR collar tag, which displays CAR’s toll free hotline (800-252-7894) and the pet’s ID number. CAR’s replacement or upgrade collar tags are available at www.akccar.org .
• If an AKC-registered dog does not have a microchip, it can still be enrolled in CAR’s recovery service. An enrollment including a collar tag imprinted with the AKC logo, your dog’s registration number, and CAR’s hotline number can be ordered at www.akc.org/lostfound .
• CAR manages the Canine Support and Relief Fund to aid and provide resources for not-for-profit canine search and rescue teams, not-for-profit veterinary units providing support to canine rescue teams, and for animal victims of natural disasters. Donations can be mailed to Ms. Kim Luong, c/o AKC, 260 Madison Avenue – 4th Floor, New York, NY 10016-2401.

For more information please visit www.akccar.org .