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Frequently-Asked Questions
What is HomeAgain?
The HomeAgain lost pet recovery service has evolved into an advanced pet safety
and wellness service designed to offer total care and protection for your pet.
To ensure your pet has permanent identification and that he has the best
chances of being found if lost, a microchip with a unique identification code
is implanted between the shoulder blades of the pet. The pet is enrolled in the
HomeAgain national database that is available 24-hours a
day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. When a lost pet is found, he can be
scanned at an animal shelter or veterinarian's office. The animal's
identification number is provided to HomeAgain (1-888-HOMEAGAIN), and the pet
owner is notified immediately.
Pets enrolled in the system also receive collar tags to wear with their
HomeAgain identification number and our toll-free number. The tags alone help
identify lost pets, but tags and collars can easily come off. A microchip
provides permanent identification that remains in place. Your pet's microchip ID number
provides a permanent link to your contact information, as long as your contact information
remains up-to-date in our database.
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What are the additional features provided as part of the HomeAgain
proactive recovery service?
HomeAgain offers a proactive pet recovery service that
actively helps you look for your pet. In addition, HomeAgain sends out lost pet alerts to
veterinarians and shelters surrounding the area in which your pet was lost.
HomeAgain also allows you to easily create a "Lost Pet" poster that you can
print and post in the neighborhood.
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Is there proof the system works?
More than 3 million pets are enrolled with the HomeAgain service. To date,
HomeAgain is responsible for reuniting more than 400,000 lost pets with their
owners.
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What if a pet is lost and HomeAgain can't reach the owner?
HomeAgain asks anyone enrolling their pet in the program to provide alternate
contacts, which may be a relative or a veterinarian. HomeAgain will call these
individuals if the owner cannot be reached. It also is imperative that pet
owners keep their contact information up-to-date within the HomeAgain database.
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How big is the microchip?
The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice. You cannot see the microchip
after it is implanted in your dog or cat.
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How are pets microchipped?
Your veterinarian will implant the microchip in your pet. The procedure is
simple and similar to administering a vaccine or a routine shot. The microchip
comes preloaded in a sterile applicator and is injected under the loose skin
between the shoulder blades.
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Is microchipping safe?
Extensive testing and long-term use have shown the HomeAgain microchip is
safe for pets.
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Why is microchipping the preferred method of identifying pets?
All pets should wear collar tags imprinted with their name and the phone number
of their owner or veterinarian. Tags, though, may become worn and impossible to
read or may slip off. Tattooing pets with a number - often the owner's social
security number - is another method of identifying pets; however, veterinarians
and pet rescue experts say tattoos can blur over time, and they can be altered.
A microchip is the only form of pet identification that has proven to be
completely permanent, with a unique number that cannot be altered or removed.
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What's unique about the HomeAgain WorldScan™ scanner?
The HomeAgain WorldScan™ scanner reads all microchips utilizing the 125 kHz and
128 kHz radio frequencies (HomeAgain, AVID and Trovan) including those that
previously could not be read by all U.S. scanners. The HomeAgain WorldScan™
scanner also detects the presence of 134.2 kHz microchips, or ISO chip, commonly used
outside of the United States. While the scanner will not display the number of all
ISO chips, it will indicate the presence of the chip so that steps toward a recovery
can be put in place.
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How can pet owners enroll their pets into HomeAgain?
Any pet with a microchip can enroll on our site or by calling 1-888-HomeAgain (1-888-466-3242).
If your pet is not microchipped, go to your veterinarian (or find a HomeAgain vet in your area) and ask your veterinarian to implant your pet with the HomeAgain microchip and enroll in the HomeAgain service. Once your pet is enrolled, you'll have access to the portfolio of services provided by HomeAgain to keep your pet safe and sound.
For more information about HomeAgain, call 1-888-HOMEAGAIN.
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What browser do I need to be able to use the HomeAgain portal?
The HomeAgain portal is compatible with IE 6.0+ and Firefox 1.5+ The system requires that Cookies and JavaScript must be enabled.
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