I have had my pet for about three years now, and he means the world to me. Initially, his previous owners were my roommates and friends, and they had him for the first year of his life while I was living with them. One owner was abusive toward the pet, and when the other moved to a place that didn’t allow pets, they decided to give him to me as the pet and I had formed a strong bond.
After some time, the owner who had moved informed me that she intended to take the pet back once she found a place that allowed pets, claiming I had only been watching him temporarily. However, from the very beginning, both owners had told me the pet was mine. No one helped with any of the expenses during that time; he was entirely my responsibility.
After a confrontation with the former owner, I expressed that I was sorry she changed her mind, but the pet was mine, and she couldn’t take him back. She accepted that, and we haven’t spoken since. I deleted her contact information. However, she had the pet micro-chipped when he was neutered, and I’m terrified that if he ever gets out and loses his collar, he’ll be returned to her.
I am also worried that if I try to change the information on the microchip, I’ll need to contact her for an ownership transfer, which could allow her to reclaim him. I’m not sure how to handle this situation.
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Have you tried calling the company and just telling them the animal was abandoned by a roommate and see if they will change it?
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Just straight to the point, you adopted it on Friday and need to change the other information. mentioning your roommate may create suspension.
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No, I haven’t, the vet that she got him fixed and chipped at said they couldn’t send me any records because it’s under her name and I am not a secondary contact
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When you scan the microchip, you can see the brand and the number. This is information that you should have or receive right now. Microchip readers are available at pet stores as well. Contact the firm. There will be a modest cost.
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Your current vet can scan the chip and get the company/brand and chip ID from it. Call the company and tell them you need to change the information.
It is possible to remove and replace a microchip. Just not comfortable. If you can’t change the information and the cat ever needs a dental procedure, your vet may do a chip swap while the cat sedated.
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Wait, you’ve been paying the vet bills and caring for the pet for the past three years? You should contact the company that provided the microchip and explain the situation. With proof that you’ve been the sole caretaker, you should be able to change the ownership.
Do you have any texts or emails where the previous owner said the pet was yours before she changed her mind? If the pet gets out and is found, they’ll check the chip, and if you’re not listed as the owner, it could be difficult to get the pet back unless they can’t reach her. If her contact info is outdated, you might have a case.
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The vet you are using should be able to help you get the ownership with the chip changed.
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Vet staff have no authorization to do anything about changing microchip registration. I am vet staff. We register the microchips we place, once it’s registered it’s now on the owner to update/change the info. I’ve tried calling on behalf of owners- the companies legally can’t change the info without consent from the current listed owner.
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I was able to update my cat’s information because she wasn’t marked as “lost,” even without the prior owner’s approval, but this may vary by firm; I also offered to produce proof of adoption, but they stated it wasn’t required.
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Get your pet vaccinated and licensed with the city. Keep all texts that document what they originally stated while you’ve had him for so long. Try to get them to realize they abandoned you and provided no financial support. Wait a while (as long as you can confirm that the cat has been in your care for an extended time) before contacting the microchip company. Explain that you’ve had the cat for a long time and have proof of ownership, but you’ve recently learned it has a chip and need to get it transferred to you. Get your cat a breakaway collar and a tag with your information. If the cat escapes, the person who finds it will call you before attempting to scan for a chip
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Some chips are implanted under the skin. Get a vet to extract the old chip and pop in a new chip.