Why microchipping matters – and how Biscuit helps!  

Microchipping your dog isn’t just about following rules; it’s about protecting their safety and giving you peace of mind. While it’s a legal requirement in the UK, a microchip is far more than a box to tick—it’s a vital tool for reuniting lost pets with their families. Biscuit adds even more value to microchipping by linking it to exclusive in-app perks and ensuring your dog’s microchip is legitimate and properly registered. 

Why microchipping is essential 

A microchip acts as a permanent ID for your dog. Unlike collars or tags, which can be lost or removed, a microchip is always there, ready to link your pet back to you through a national database. It’s essential for reuniting pets with their owners in emergencies, preventing unnecessary heartbreak. 

A real-life example 

Biscuit user, Rachel Burford-Turner, discovered a startling truth about her dog’s microchip through the Biscuit app. When she attempted to verify her dog’s microchip to earn the Microchip Badge, she found it couldn’t be validated. After some digging, she realised her provider was a fraudulent company issuing chip numbers without registering them on a national database. Her dog’s chip was essentially useless for identification! 

Rachel explains: 
"Thanks to this app, I found out my microchip provider was a fraudulent company, who gave me a chip number but didn’t log it on a national database. So, if I lost my pet, the chip would’ve been useless. I initially paid a lifetime fee to my breeder’s chosen company, but later received annual emails requesting more payments, which I paid without realising something was wrong. Only when I couldn’t verify my chip on Biscuit did I investigate and found I had to pay the original company again to properly register it on a national database. Biscuit flagged this issue, and I'm now waiting for my new chip to be re-verified. If anyone else struggles with verification, this may be why!" 

Rachel’s experience highlights how important it is to ensure your microchip is properly registered on a valid database — not just for peace of mind, but for your pet’s safety. 

How Biscuit adds value to your microchip 

Biscuit takes microchipping further by integrating it into our app features, giving you added benefits for completing the microchip badge: 

• Unlock rewards: voucher redemption in Biscuit is only available after completing your microchip badge. This ensures that users are responsible dog owners who have taken steps to protect their pets. 
• Peace of mind: Biscuit checks for your microchip on over 20 national microchip databases, which adhere to government standards to ensure your microchip is valid, helping you avoid fraudulent providers and nasty surprises like Rachel’s. 
• Rewards for responsibility: completing the microchip badge earns you in-app Biscuits to spend on rewards, treats, and offers for you and your pet. 
• Educational value: Biscuit’s Microchip Badge journey helps you understand the importance of proper registration and how to spot fraudulent microchip companies. 
  

The legal and practical benefits 

In the UK, microchipping is legally required for all dogs over eight weeks old, with up-to-date information about the owner. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to £500 and you could face criminal prosecution. But more importantly, microchipping ensures that if your dog is ever lost or stolen, they can be quickly identified and returned to you. 

Don’t forget, our support team are always on hand to help you with your Microchip verification so don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at support@biscuitpetcare.com