Pet Microchipping
A microchip doesn't track your pet. It holds one ID number, and that number only gets your pet home if the registry has your current phone number. Petfolk Johns Creek, at Medley in Johns Creek Town Center, places the chip and walks you through registering it.
Most pets get chipped during a visit they're already having at our Johns Creek clinic.
Call (470) 964-6691 or book online. Open 8am–6pm, seven days a week.
When to go to a 24-hour emergency hospital
Microchipping isn't urgent, but some things that happen when a pet gets loose are. Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital if your found pet was hit by a car, is limping badly, bleeding, or struggling to breathe, or was missing in extreme heat.
Petfolk Johns Creek is open 8am to 6pm, seven days a week. We don't provide overnight care, so anything that can't wait until morning belongs at a 24-hour emergency hospital.
What a Microchip Does and Doesn't Do
Does: give your pet a permanent ID that can't fall off or fade.
Does: let a shelter or vet with a universal scanner read the number in seconds.
Doesn't: track location. There's no battery and no GPS.
Doesn't: store medical records or rabies information.
Doesn't: replace a collar and tag, still the fastest way a neighbor gets your pet home.
AAHA explains why chipped pets are more likely to be returned when their owners keep registration up to date.
Implanting the Chip
The chip is about the size of a grain of rice. It goes under the skin between the shoulder blades with a needle, a quick pinch similar to a vaccine. No anesthesia or stitches are needed, and our Gentle Handling team uses treats to keep the moment easy.
If your pet is already under anesthesia for a spay, neuter, or dental cleaning, the chip can go in then, and your pet won't feel it. The chip is scanned right after placement to confirm it reads.
“Easy, efficient, high-tech. They did a great job with my elderly dog's funny temperament and handled him with kindness and professionalism.”
— Kristin K., Petfolk client
Registration: The Step That Matters Most
You get the chip number and the registry's name in writing.
Create an account with that registry and enter your name, address, and at least two phone numbers.
Add a backup contact who would answer if you're out of town.
Update the record every time you move or change your number.
Save the chip number somewhere you can find it fast, like a photo on your phone.
When Your Pet Already Has a Chip
Many rescue pets arrive already chipped, so the vet scans first. If your pet has a working chip, you probably don't need another one. You need to check the registration.
Have the chip scanned so you know the actual number.
Run the number through a universal microchip lookup tool to find the registry.
Log in and confirm your phone, backup contact, and address.
A second chip can make sense if the first won't read reliably or if a pet came from overseas with a chip some U.S. scanners can't read. The vet will tell you which case applies.
If Your Pet Goes Missing in Johns Creek
Johns Creek is in Fulton County, and Fulton County Animal Services handles lost and found pets for the county. If your pet goes missing, call them at 404-613-0358, file a lost-pet report, and visit the shelter in person if you can. Shelters scan found pets for chips, so a current registration is what turns a scan into a phone call.
Call your microchip registry too, and mark your pet as lost.
What Microchipping Costs Depend On
Whether it's added to a visit you're already having
Whether your pet needs a new chip or just a scan and registry check
The registry, since some charge for registration or upgrades
You'll get an estimate before the chip is placed.
Chip It, Register It, Keep It Current
Add microchipping to your pet's next visit at Petfolk Johns Creek, and leave with the number and a registered account. Call (470) 964-6691 or book online.