Registering a Microchip
Microchip registration follows a three-step workflow: create a draft; validate the microchip; then submit to PetLink.
Step 1: Create a Registration
- Navigate to Settings > Microchip Registry
- Click Add Microchip
- Fill out the registration form (details below)
- Click Save to create a draft
Pet Information
- Select a pet from your existing records; their name, species, breed, color, and birth date auto-fill from their profile
- Microchip code: 15 digits starting with "981" (e.g., 981000000123456)
- You can adjust the auto-filled pet details if needed
Owner Information
Choose where the owner details come from:
- Enter Manually: type in the owner's information by hand
- Select Adopter: pre-fill from an adopter profile in your system
- Select Foster: pre-fill from a foster profile in your system
Required owner fields: first name, last name, email, primary phone, address (street, city, state, postal code, country), and acceptance of PetLink's terms and conditions.
Important: The owner's email address becomes their PetLink login. It must be a personal/owner email, not a shelter or veterinarian account email. Double-check it before submitting, as it cannot be changed after registration.
Step 2: Validate the Microchip
- Open your saved draft registration
- Click Validate Microchip
- Wait for the validation to complete
Validation checks three things:
- The microchip code format is correct
- The microchip is prepaid
- The microchip isn't already registered to another owner
Validation Outcomes
| Result | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Valid and prepaid | Status changes to "Ready to Submit"; you can proceed to submit |
| Not prepaid | You'll see an error with instructions to contact the microchip vendor to verify prepaid status |
| Already registered | Status changes to "Transfer Required"; the current owner must initiate a transfer through PetLink (see Troubleshooting) |
Step 3: Submit to PetLink
After successful validation:
- Review all pet and owner information one final time
- Click Submit to PetLink
- Confirm the submission
PawPlacer sends the registration to PetLink, which creates or updates the owner's PetLink account and links the microchip to the pet. If the owner doesn't have a PetLink account, one is created automatically.
On success, the registration status changes to Registered and the record is locked. You'll see confirmation details including PetLink's owner and pet IDs.
Warning: Once submitted, the registration is permanent and cannot be edited through PawPlacer. For changes after submission, contact PetLink support directly.
Registration Statuses
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending Validation | Saved but not yet validated; all fields are editable |
| Ready to Submit | Microchip confirmed as valid and prepaid; ready to submit |
| Registered | Successfully registered with PetLink (locked) |
| Error | Validation or submission failed; check the error message and try again |
| Transfer Required | Microchip is registered to another owner; manual transfer required |
Pet Data Sync
When you save a registration, PawPlacer automatically syncs the microchip code back to the pet's profile. This keeps your records consistent without manual updates.