FidoID – The Trusted Pet Microchip Registry
Your pet could be lost without us.
Trusted by vets and pet owners since 2004, we help lost pets find their way home.
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About FidoID
At FidoID, we’re dedicated to helping pet owners protect their companions through reliable microchip registration and support services. With microchipping now compulsory for cats in 2025, our mission is to make the process simple, secure, and accessible for every owner. From microchip lookups to transferring keepership and updating details, our services give you peace of mind knowing your pet can always be identified and reunited with you.
We’ve been supporting vets and pet owners since 2004, operating trusted pet microchip registries across the UK and Ireland. Our team of veterinary and technology experts ensure every registration meets the highest standards, whether for dogs, cats, or other pets. Backed by years of experience and thousands of happy reunions, FidoID is here to make sure your pet is never truly lost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Microchip?
The microchip is a tiny computer chip which has an identification number programmed into it and is encapsulated within a biocompatible material. The whole device is small enough to fit inside a hypodermic needle and can be simply injected under the skin of our pets, where it will stay for the life of the animal. This provides a permanent identification that cannot be lost, altered or intentionally removed – a safe, simple and inexpensive way to protect your pet against loss or theft.
How does a Microchip work?
The computer memory in the Microchip contains a unique 15-digit number – no two animals will ever have the same number. (Apart from this number, the chip contains no other information, and it is certainly not a GPS tracker!)
A radio signal transmitted from a scanner carries energy to enable the chip send back the number through the skin of your pet that the scanner then reads. In addition to the number, the microchip generates a reliability check to guarantee that your pet’s identifying number is read accurately. This all takes place in less than 40 milliseconds.
After the scan, the vet consults a database such as Fido to find a matching number, and thereby obtain the owner’s contact details.
Most countries have at least one database, and many of these form part of international networks. For example, Fido’s list of registered microchips is shared with EuroPetNet.
How much does Microchip implantation cost?
The fee is set by your veterinarian. The fee is certainly less than the cost of trying to locate a lost pet. The cost of printing and hanging fliers, placing ads and rewards, calling shelters, and taking time off of work can be substantial. Not to mention the anguish and worry or worse…the heartbreak of being too late. Please ensure that when you are paying for your microchip that the veterinarian is going to register your details with Fido.
How long does the Microchip last?
Once injected under the skin of your pet, the Microchip becomes encased by a thin layer of protein which anchors it in place for the rest of the life of your pet. It does not pass through or out of the body. The microchip itself has no power supply to replace or moving parts to wear down. Therefore, it can be expected to last for decades – well beyond the lifespan of most pets.
What is the youngest age a pet can be identified?
My pets never leave my yard. Why should they be identified with a Microchip?
It only takes one time for the postman, gardener, meter reader, neighbour or friend to leave the gate open or the door ajar. Animals that have not been neutered in particular have a desire to roam. Pet theft is also a daily occurrence. Animals such as purebreds, birds and exotics are valuable and are often stolen for resale. Even horses are frequently stolen and sold for slaughter. Most shelters destroy the majority of pets they impound. They are destroyed only because they are not identified.
Does my pet have to be sedated for the injection?
No! Injecting a Microchip is just like any other injection or vaccination. Anaesthesia is not required or recommended since there is minimal discomfort with the procedure.
Does it hurt?
Not at all. The injection creates only a slight discomfort – most pets don’t even react to it. The microchip is encapsulated in a specially formulated biocompatible material created specifically for this kind of application.
Could my pet be allergic to the Microchip?
The Microchip is inert and biocompatible. There is virtually no chance of the body developing an allergy or trying to reject the microchip after being implanted.
How do I know the shelter will be able to check for the Microchip?
www.fido.ie is actively building strong relationships with animal welfare organisations, local authorities and veterinary surgeons to ensure that it is the main reference point for the recovery of lost pets. www.fido.ie continues to develop key relationships with individuals and organizations in the animal welfare and recovery fields. The stored information relating to your registered microchip number is maintained on a database in the greater Dublin area and this information, which will include your address and contact phone numbers, will be provided to pre-approved organisations in the event of them locating your microchip.
If my pet is found, how does the shelter know to contact me?
The stored information relating to your registered microchip number is maintained on a database and this information, which will include an address and contact phone numbers supplied by you, will be provided to pre-approved organisations in the event of them locating the microchip.
What happens if I'm on vacation and my pet is found?
www.fido.ie maintains “third party contact” information. Your pet would be released to your authorised representative to ensure its well-being. Your pet is protected even when you are not at home, no matter what the reason. Alternatively you can log on to www.fido.ie and register your holiday address or contact details for the duration of your holiday or designate a third party to be responsible for the animal when you are away.
How do I update or change my pet's record?
For dogs on the Certified Registry you can use the details on the Certificate to log in and change certain details, such as your third-party contacts or holiday details. Some information that is on the official certificate can only be changed with the help of your vet and/or Fido staff and there may be a fee involved (€7.50, unless this was an error caused by the vet or Fido) and a new Certificate will be issued. A limited subset of contact details can be edited online (fee €5.00) so long as it is clear that the recorded owner remains the same person. On the Standard Registry for non-dog pets (such as cats) you can change all of your pet’s details online, for free. If your pet has been found, the information you provide is our only means of contacting you, so it is important to be accurate.
In exceptional cases, a legal representative or close family member may advise us of a change in circumstances necessitating a revision of the registered information (e.g. the death of the owner) and we will accommodate such adjustments until such time as a formal transfer of registered ownership can be completed. We ask that you contact our HelpDesk to explain the nature of the circumstances so that we can assist.
Do I have to renew my pet's enrolment?
No. Registration is for the life of the microchipped animal and certain changes you require to be made will be done free of charge. For dogs there is a simple change-of-ownership process that must be completed, and this is generally the only time that any significant interaction with Fido is needed post-registration.
How do I transfer ownership of my pet?
For the Standard Registry (cats etc.), return to the home page and log in. Once logged in, follow the instructions for change of ownership.
For dogs on the Certified Registry the instructions for the old and new owners are on the second page of the Certificate. The most direct option is to log in with the five-digit owner PIN indicated on the certificate and follow the online instructions.
Where is the microchip implanted?
For most animals (dogs, cats) the chip is implanted in the scruff of the neck (the loose skin between the animal’s shoulder blades). In birds, the chip is implanted under a wing. Consult your veterinarian for advice regarding other pets.
Can the microchip be easily removed?
No, it would require a veterinarian to remove the microchip in a complicated surgical operation. The chips are designed to bind and therefore are not easy to remove.