I’ve just got a new pet - how do I transfer the microchip into my name?

Congratulations on your new pet!

To stay compliant with UK law and make sure your pet can be returned to you if they go missing, their microchip must be registered in your name as the new keeper.

In the UK:

• Dogs must be microchipped and registered to their current keeper by 8 weeks of age.

• Cats (in England) must be microchipped and registered to their current keeper by 20 weeks of age.

Failing to update your pet’s details can result in a fine of up to £500.

1. Add your pet to your account

• Log in to your account (or create one here).

• Go to Add Pet and enter your pet’s details, including their microchip number.

2. We check the chip number

• If the microchip number is already registered to another account, we’ll trigger our online Transfer of Keepership process.

• You’ll be asked for a few details to help us verify the transfer request.

3. We contact the existing keeper

• We always check with the current registered keeper to confirm they agree to relinquish the pet’s records.

• We make several attempts to contact them.

• If we haven’t received a response after 14 days, we’ll follow up directly with you to agree the next steps.

4. If and when we hear back, we’ll contact you to finalise the process

• Once the existing keeper confirms the transfer, we’ll get in touch with you as the new keeper to complete the final steps.

• At this stage, we’ll request the £15 one-off admin fee, which gives you full Pet Database membership for life, covering all pets you own with no annual or monthly charges.

5. Transfer complete

Once payment is made, we’ll move the pet into your account and update their record so you are listed as the legal keeper.

• Previous keeper has passed away: Contact us with any supporting information and we’ll help you process the transfer.

💡 Tip: Once your pet is in your account, add an emergency contact for extra peace of mind in case you can’t be reached.