PetLink FAQs.
Find answers to your questions here.

As a new owner:

• Select the green "Register your pet now" button from the PetLink homepage.
• Select one of the three options:
  • I have a microchip number
  • I have a microchip but do not know the microchip number
  • I do not have a microchip number
• Follow the instructions given to fill in all the information about yourself and your pet
• Provide payment to complete registration, if required. Registration may have been included in the cost of the microchip paid to your vet or to the shelter where you adopted your pet. PetLink will let you know if any payment is required to complete your registration.

As existing owner:

• Login to your account (input your e-mail address and password)
• Select "Register New Pet" on the left menu

For assistance, please email us at petlink@petlink.net.

PetLink microchips purchased and sold by PetLink veterinary partners include Free Lifetime registration. This includes Free account updates for the life of the pet as well.

If you adopted a pet from a shelter or rescue that organization may have purchased the microchips without any registration being included. If your pet’s microchip did not come with prepaid registration, or you are unsure about the type of registration included with your microchip, please go to FAQ: What type of registration is included with my microchip? If you have a lifetime, prepaid microchip, the online registration is free! PetLink will let you know if any payment is required to complete your registration.

Once your pet is registered for life with PetLink, there are no annual renewals required!

If you prefer to register by phone, you may be charged a $4.95 fee for operator assistance. Please call 1-877-PETLINK (1-877-738-5465) to register by phone.

You can add as many pets as you wish to your account. To add a new pet please follow these steps:

• Login to your account (input your e-mail address and password)
• Select "Register new Pet" in the left menu
• Provide your pet's details and click "Submit"
• Provide payment to complete registration, if required. Registration may have been included in the cost of the microchip paid to your vet or to the shelter where you adopted your pet. PetLink will let you know if any payment is required to complete your registration.

For assistance, please email us at petlink@petlink.net.

There is no limit to the number of pets you may register with PetLink. Each pet must have a valid 9-, 10-, or 15-digit microchip. PetLink will let you know if any payment is required to complete your registration.

To add additional pets to your account, login to PetLink and select 'Register New Pet' from the left menu.

If you already have other pets registered with PetLink that you do not see listed on your profile, please email us at petlink@petlink.net.

Chugs, Puggles, Chiweenies, Labradoodles, Zonies (Zebra + Pony) and Zonkies (Zebra + Donkey) - it can be hard for us to keep up! In order to ensure we have the closest possible description of your pet you can specify your pet's breed type during the registration process by following these simple instructions.

• When you arrive at Step 3 - "Tell us About Your Pet" - select the appropriate species of your pet
• Under Breed Type, select Mixed Breed. If you are not sure of the exact breed types of your pet, select either Feral/Stray or Unknown.
• Select up to three breeds from the drop down menu that most resemble your pet.

After completing your pet's breed type, you can continue with your PetLink registration - it's that easy!

For assistance, please email us at petlink@petlink.net.

No. PetLink will accept any valid 9, 10 or 15 digit microchip.

After you complete your online registration, you will receive a confirmation email from PetLink.

If you do not receive an email confirmation, please email us at petlink@petlink.net.

Sometimes the microchip number of a pet is already registered in PetLink. This may be for a variety of reasons, including an error. Below are the most common reasons and directions for how to resolve this issue:

Verify the microchip number

Please make sure you typed your microchip number correctly.

Someone already registered your microchip number

Somebody might have registered your pet's microchip number by accident. Alternatively, a shelter or vet might have already registered the pet on your behalf. In this case, please email us at petlink@petlink.net.

Microchipping allows you to provide your pet with a lifetime ID number. An ISO-compliant microchip contains a unique and unalterable identification number that is recognized in most countries around the world.

Microchipping is a reliable, permanent, one time service that helps give you peace of mind for your pet's lifetime, but it is nearly useless if the microchipped pet is not registered in a database such as PetLink. The microchip only contains an identification number; without accurate registration associated with the microchip number, a lost, microchipped animal that is scanned might not be returned to its owner.

Don't wait! Register your pet with PetLink! The sooner, the better!

Your pet's microchip has one of three registration options that your veterinarian or shelter organization chooses when they purchase Datamars Microfindr microchips. The PetLink website will let you know what type of registration type your microchip has during the registration process. Below are the three options that are available:

• Lifetime Registration - the registration fee has been prepaid on your behalf by your vet or shelter organization. No additional registration fee is required to complete your pet's registration online with PetLink*. Your pet is protected for life! No subsequent renewals or annual fees are required*.
• One Year Registration - your pet's first year of registration with PetLink has been paid in advance by your vet or shelter organization. You will be notified by email when your One Year Registration is coming to an end so that you can upgrade to Lifetime Registration to ensure your pet remains covered should he or she be lost. To complete Lifetime Registration, you will be required to pay a one-time upgrade fee. We offer significant discounts to One Year customers who are upgrading to Lifetime Registration before their One Year Registration expires. Keep an eye out for emails from PetLink! Once your upgrade is complete, your pet is protected for life! No subsequent renewals or annual fees are required*.
• No Registration - no registration has been purchased in advance, so you'll be asked to pay a one-time, lifetime fee of $24.95 to register your pet's microchip with PetLink. Once this fee is paid, your pet is protected for life! No subsequent renewals or annual fees are required.

In all cases, there are no monthly or annual fees associated with your PetLink registration! For assistance, please email us at petlink@petlink.net.

*Please note if you call the PetLink Call Center to register your microchip over the phone, you may be subject to a $4.95 operator assistance fee

PetLink will periodically notify you via email when your One Year Registration is due to expire. To upgrade your pet to lifetime registration, follow these steps:

• Login to your PetLink account (input your e-mail address and password)
• Once you are logged in, you will see the names of your pets listed on the right of your home screen.
• If a pet's registration is due to expire, you will see a link highlighted in red next to that pet's name "Upgrade to lifetime registration now". Click the link and you will be redirected to a payment screen where you can pay the one-time fee to complete your lifetime registration upgrade.
• Once your payment has been accepted, you will receive a confirmation email; no further fees or annual renewals are needed to keep your PetLink account active.

For assistance, please email us at petlink@petlink.net.

PetLink allows you to print a Microchip Certificate as proof of registration. The certificate shows your contact details and your pet's details.

To print your Microchip Certificate follow these steps:

• Login to your PetLink account (input your e-mail address and password)
• Once you are logged in, choose "Microchip Certificate" from the menu on the left.
• Select the pet for which you want to print a certificate.
• Review the certificate and print it.

Your certificate is based on the information about you and your pet. Make sure these details are all correct and up-to-date. If needed, you can always reprint an updated Microchip Certificate at a later date.

Login issues can sometimes result from your browser. First, we recommend that you try clearing your browser history or "cache" to see if that resolves the issue. On a PC, do so by selecting Control + F5. On a Mac, go to "Finder", click on "Macintosh HD", select "Library", select the Cache folder and delete its contents; then empty the trash.

If clearing your browser history did not work, you might want to try downloading another free Internet browser such as Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome, or use your computer's pre-loaded Internet browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Apple Safari. In most cases using a different browser will correct any issues you are having with your login.

Also, make sure your password is correct. Click on the "Forgot Password" prompt and enter your email address in the appropriate field. Your password will be sent to the email address used to create your PetLink account. Please check your spam filter settings to ensure you receive email from PetLink.

For assistance, please email us at petlink@petlink.net.

Your User Name is the email address you used to set up your PetLink account. If you do not remember it, please click on the Forgot Login prompt in the login field, enter your microchip ID and we will use that to find your account and send reminder to the email address that PetLink has on file for your account.

If you do not remember your microchip ID, or if your email account is no longer active, please email us at petlink@petlink.net. We will respond to you within 2 business days (usually less!).

If you forgot your password, please click on the "Forgot Password" prompt next to the login field. Then re-confirm your user name/email address; a link will then be sent to you at that email address so that you can reset your password. After receiving the email, please login within 72 hours to reset your password.

Please note that PetLink will only be able to send you a notification if the email address you provide matches the one associated with your account. If the email address entered here does not match, you will not receive the notice. For assistance, please email us at petlink@petlink.net.

PetLink asks anyone registering their pet to provide alternate contacts, which may be a relative, a friend or a veterinarian. PetLink will call/email these individuals if the owner cannot be reached.

It also is imperative that pet owners keep their contact information up-to-date in their user profile. We will make repeated attempts for up to 72 hours to contact an owner or alternate contact to make a reunification.

Contact PetLink immediately to report your pet as lost. You can call us at 1-877-PETLINK (738-5465) or file a Lost Pet Report online.

You can also login to your PetLink account and create a Lost Pet Poster to put up in the area where your pet was last seen. As soon as your pet is found, we will immediately get in touch with you by phone and email.

Please try to keep the pet safe. If you are not comfortable keeping the animal, you may bring it to a local veterinary clinic or animal shelter. While at the veterinary clinic or animal shelter, we suggest that you ask an employee to scan the pet for a microchip.

If the pet is microchipped, please file a Found Pet Report online or call 1-877-PETLINK (738-5465). We will do our best to contact the owner as soon as possible.

To update your owner information, please follow these steps:

• Login to your account (input your e-mail address and password)
• Select "My Information" from the left menu
• Select "Edit My Information" at the top or bottom of the page
• Update the information as desired
• When completed click "Submit"

For assistance, please email us at petlink@petlink.net.

To update your pet's information, please follow these steps:

• Login to your account (input your e-mail address and password)
• Select "Pets" in the left menu
• Select the name of the pet you want to update
• Select "Edit Pet" at the top of the page
• Update the information as desired
• When completed click "Submit"

For assistance, please email us at petlink@petlink.net.

Veterinary practices and clinics must choose to enroll themselves with PetLink in order to safeguard their privacy and ensure that only licensed veterinarians are registered.

If you cannot find your vet in our list, we suggest you add them to your owner profile as an "Additional Contact".

To verify whether your vet is registered with PetLink, follow these steps:

• Login to your account (input your e-mail address and password)
• Select "My Information" in the left menu
• Select "Edit My Information" at the top of the page
• Scroll down to the "Vet" section and click on "Change Vet"
• Enter your vet's zip code; if your vet is registered, then the vet's name or the practice name will appear highlighted in red
• Click on the name and it will be added to your profile
• Click "Submit" when completed

If you still cannot locate your vet, you should add your vet's contact details to the "Additional Contact" section. Follow these steps:

• Login to your account (input your e-mail address and password)
• Select "My Information" in the left menu
• Select "Edit My Information" at the top of the page
• Input your vet's name and contact details in the "Additional Contact" or "Other Additional Contact" section
• Click "Submit" when completed

We also encourage you to let your vet know that your pet is registered with PetLink and ask the practice to register with PetLink. Ask them to do it today!

For assistance, please email us at petlink@petlink.net.

We are sorry to hear of your pet's passing. Please take a moment to update your PetLink profile.

• Login to your account (input your e-mail address and password)
• Select "Pets" in the left menu
• Select the name of the pet you want to update
• Select "Edit Pet" at the top of the page
• Scroll down to the bottom of the pet page to "Pet Status" and select "Deceased"
• When completed click "Submit"

Please note that deceased pets will no longer be shown in your list of pets, and you will no longer receive any email communications regarding your deceased pet.

You can access and manage all of the personal information that we collect about you and your pets online through your PetLink profile:

• Login to your account (input your e-mail address and password)
• Select "My Information" in the left menu
• Select "Edit My Information" at the top of the page and edit as needed
• Click "Submit" when completed

To opt-out or unsubscribe from email communications:

This option allows you to stop receiving PetLink emails, newsletters or third party offers; please note that regardless of the choices you make about the receipt of special offers, we will continue to contact you with service-related messages. These service-related communications are an essential component of the PetLink service.

• Login to your account (input your e-mail address and password)
• Select "My Information" in the left menu
• Select "Edit My Information" at the top of the page
• Untick the check button under "Terms and Conditions"
• Click "Submit" when completed

We know that your privacy is important to you. For more information explaining our online information practices and the choice you can make about the way your information is collected and used, please see our Privacy Policy.

petlink@petlink.net.

Unfortunately, we can only discuss the account with the registered owner or the additional contacts listed. We cannot give out PetLink account information to an individual who is not listed on the account.

We will, however, provide your account details to any animal professional who contacts us in regards to a lost or found pet.

The veterinarian or shelter organization that microchipped your pet will scan the microchip to make sure it works during the implantation procedure. In the unlikely event that the microchip stops working after it is implanted, and the microchip was manufactured by Datamars, please have your veterinarian or shelter organization contact PetLink at petlink@petlink.net for assistance.

The microchip does not have an internal battery or power source. In fact, it's completely passive. When a microchip reader is passed over it, the microchip receives enough power from the reader to transmit the pet's ID number. Since there is no battery and there are no moving parts, there's nothing to wear out or replace. The microchip will last throughout your pet's lifetime.

A microchip is as small as a grain of rice, and is easily implanted under the skin of your pet. Microchip implantation is no more painful to pets than getting a flu shot is to you. Microchipping doesn't require anesthesia and it takes only seconds

When properly implanted, a microchip should not migrate or move beyond an inch or so. If, for some reason, you find that your pet's microchip has migrated from the original implant site to a different part of your pet's body, check with your vet to ensure your pet is not in any danger.

For assistance, email us at petlink@petlink.net

Pet microchips are not tracking devices. While there are many tracking devices available for pets, they require your pet to wear a receiver on his or her collar that must be removed and regularly recharged. What happens if your pet is lost while its GPS receiver is being charged? Also, the GPS tracking devices for pets usually only allow you to set a certain perimeter for your pet; if your pet leaves that area, no tracking data can be transmitted. The receivers, like all collars, can be torn off, chewed off or removed. Monthly service fees, just like a data plan, are also usually needed. Since there's no battery and no moving parts in a microchip, there's nothing to keep charged, wear out, or replace. The microchip will last your pet's lifetime - and with PetLink, there are no monthly or annual fees - EVER.

Microchips are passive, meaning that they do not need a battery to work. The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted under your pet's skin - like getting an injection. Although tracking information is not available from a microchip and we cannot tell exactly where a pet is located, if found, it is standard procedure nationwide for veterinarians, animal shelters, human societies and animal control agencies to scan pets for microchips in the hopes of finding an owner's contact information through the microchip's online registration.

Microchipping is the only form of permanent, unalterable, unique identification that an owner can provide for a pet. Give your pet a silent voice for the times when he or she is unable to speak for themselves - and don't forget to complete your registration in PetLink!

Microchips are about the size of a grain of rice, and are safe to be implanted in just about all species of animals. Dogs, cats, horses, birds, rabbits, ferrets, rodents, amphibians, turtles and reptiles can all be safely microchipped - any many others. For more information, visit the World Small Animal Veternary Association's website, or ask your local veterinarian.

You do not need to have one of the microchips removed and they will not interfere with each other. The microchip detected by the scanner will depend on the scanner used - if it is a universal scanner, it should be able to eventually detect both microchips but it will have to be reset once it picks up the first one before it can read the second. Since it is so rare for pets to have more than one microchip, most vets and shelters don't keep looking for a second once one microchip has been detected, so we recommend that you keep a separate registration for each of your pet's two microchip numbers. You never know which of the microchips will be detected first - so better safe than sorry.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2013, all American horses newly registered with the FEI must be microchipped (2012 FEI Article 1011.1.2.3). The microchip must be ISO 11784/5 compatible, and all microchip information must be entered in the horse's passport and reported to the Unites States Equestrian Federation (USEF). This requirement applies to initial FEI registration only. Datamars Microfindr microchips comply with these regulations.

Only licensed vets and/or members of their teams can register animal hospitals, clinics or practices with PetLink. Pet owners can list a veterinarian as an additional contact on their account if the practice does not have a PetLink profile, but only the vet can choose to complete a registration on his or her own behalf.

If you are a licensed veterinarian or member of a licensed clinic's staff, please REGISTER YOUR VET PRACTICE.