A microchip is a rice-sized ID chip placed under the skin in a few seconds, and it helps a lost dog or cat get home because shelters and vets scan for it. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Fort Mill offers pet microchipping in Fort Mill, then shows you how to register the chip so it actually leads back to you.
Petfolk Fort Mill is a veterinary clinic in Fort Mill, South Carolina, at 1642 SC-160, Suite 104. Collars slip off and tags get lost; a chip stays with your pet for life.
Call (803) 590-8031 or book online.
How does a pet microchip work?
A microchip holds one thing: a unique ID number. It has no battery and sends no signal on its own. When a shelter, animal services officer or vet passes a scanner over your pet, the chip shares that number, which is then looked up in a registry to find your contact details. A microchip is not a GPS tracker. For live tracking, add a GPS collar, which works best alongside a chip.
Do South Carolina shelters scan for microchips?
Yes, South Carolina law requires animal shelters to scan incoming dogs and cats for a microchip or tattoo and to promptly try to reach the pet's family (S.C. Code 47-3-55, SC Code of Laws). A registered chip with your current phone number is what turns that scan into a phone call. If your pet goes missing, also contact York County Animal Services and the shelters nearby.
How is a microchip placed at Petfolk Fort Mill?
At Petfolk Fort Mill, the chip goes in through a needle, usually between the shoulder blades, and most pets react about the way they do to a vaccine.
The vet scans your pet first, in case a chip is already there.
The chip is placed, with treats and a steady hold (the team uses Gentle Handling).
The vet scans again to confirm it reads.
You leave with the chip number and the registration steps.
Many pet parents have it done during another visit, such as a checkup or while a pet is already asleep for a spay or neuter surgery.
Which pets get microchipped at Petfolk?
Both dogs and cats get chips: about 6 in 10 microchips placed at Petfolk Fort Mill (61%) went to dogs and about 4 in 10 to cats, from October 2025 to October 2026. Across Petfolk clinics, nearly two-thirds of microchips (64%) were placed during a spay or neuter visit, at a typical age of about 10 months (October 2025 to September 2026). Across Petfolk's Charlotte-area clinics, a microchip was part of about 1 in 3 dog (33%) and half of cat (52%) spay or neuter visits in the same window.
Is placing the chip all I need to do?
No, and registration is the step most often missed. A chip is only as good as its registry record. After it is placed:
Register it with your name, phone number and a backup contact.
Update the record every time you move or change numbers. Families who move to Fort Mill from another state should check that the registry has their new address.
Ask Petfolk Fort Mill to scan your pet at its next visit to confirm the chip still reads.
Does my pet still need a collar tag if it has a chip?
Yes, a tag and a chip do different jobs, and your pet should have both. An ID tag with your phone number is the fastest way home, because anyone can read it without a scanner. The rabies tag from your pet's vaccine shows your pet is vaccinated. The microchip is the backup when the collar comes off, which tends to happen exactly when a pet bolts.
Do indoor cats need a microchip?
Yes, indoor cats need chips too, because they slip through open doors and a frightened cat may hide for days. Many indoor cats wear no collar at all, so the chip is often their only ID. If your cat gets out in Regent Park, a neighbor who takes it to a vet or shelter can get it scanned.
When are pets most likely to get lost?
Pets often get lost during loud or busy moments: fireworks on the Fourth of July and New Year's, storms, or a gate left open by a contractor. Check the chip registration in late June, keep pets inside on fireworks nights, and make sure the gate latch holds. Keep a recent photo of your pet on your phone and the chip number with your important papers. The American Veterinary Medical Association has more on pet ID.
What if my pet is hurt while lost?
If your pet is hurt in an escape, such as hit by a car or bitten in a fight, go to a 24-hour emergency hospital first; the chip check can wait.
How do I book microchipping in Fort Mill?
Call (803) 590-8031 or book online. A veterinarian in Fort Mill can place the chip, scan it and walk you through registration in one visit, and you get an estimate before any treatment.
Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Fort Mill, or see all veterinary services in Fort Mill.
Microchip questions, briefly answered
Visit us on SC-160 West