Enabling microchip registrations

Microchip registrations will be submitted to all enabled Registries. Each Registry has its own system, and you may need to follow additional instructions in order to be able to submit registrations to their database.

FreePetChipRegistry

To enable microchip registrations with FreePetChipRegistry, do the following:

1. Request an account from their website: http://www.freepetchipregistry.com.  The user name you select during registration is the user name you will enter in step #6 below.
2. Open your Manage account (https://manage.rescuegroups.org).
3. Go to Animals > Settings > Microchip Settings.
4. Look for the section FreePetChipRegistry options.
5. Select Yes for Enable FreePetChipRegistry registrations.
6. Enter the user name you were given by FreePetChipRegistry in the FreePetChipRegistry user name text box.
7. Click the Save button.

PetLink

To enable microchip registrations with PetLink, do the following:

1. Request an account from their website: 
   1. Go to http://www.petlink.net.
   2. Select Register from the top hand navigation.
   3. Click Register Shelter. 
   4. Enter your contact information
   5. Select Other for Shelter Software.
   6. Enter RescueGroups.org in the box.
   7. Click Submit.
2. Wait for the response from PetLink.  When you receive confirmation from PetLink that your account has been created, contact them and ask that your account be enabled for "API access".
3. Continue with the next step when you receive confirmation from them.
4. Open your Manage account (https://manage.rescuegroups.org).
5. Go to Animals > Settings > Microchip Settings.
6. Look for the section PetLink options.
7. Select Yes for Enable PetLink registrations.
8. Enter the username you were given by PetLink in the PetLink username text box.
9. Enter the password you were given by PetLink in the PetLink password text box.
10. Click the Save button.

Registering a microchip

You can register a microchip through either the Animal add/edit pages or the Adoption add page.

To register a microchip through the animal pages, do the following:

1. Go to the Animal Add page, or edit the animal
2. Complete the animal information as you would normally.
3. Scroll down to the Administrative Information section.
4. Select the check box next to Register under Microchip Number.
5. Enter the microchip registrants information in the fields that appear.
6. Click Save.

To register a microchip through the adoption page, do the following:

1. Go to the Adoptions > Add page.
2. Select the Animal and the Adopter.
3. Click Next.
4. Complete the adoption information as you would normally.
5. Scroll down to the Microchip Information section.
6. Select the checkbox next to Register for Microchip Number.
7. Enter the microchip registrants information in the fields that appear.
8. Click Save.

Reviewing your registration errors

You can review the errors from failed microchip registration attempts.  To view the errors for a registration:

1. Go to Animals > Microchip Registrations.
2. Find the registration in the list.
3. Click the Microchip Registration ID number.
4. Look for Registration Error(s).

Retrying a microchip registration

If a registration fails, you'll want to correct the issue and then retry the registration.

To mark a registration to retry:

1. Go to Animals > Microchip Registrations.
2. Find the registration in the list.
3. Select the check box next to the registration.
4. Select Retry in the Actions drop down.
5. Click OK.

Removing a microchip registration

If you need to remove the registration for a microchip (ex., the animal is returned), you should do the following:

1. Contact the microchip registry and request that the registration be removed.
2. Once the registry confirms that the registration has been removed, go to Animals > Microchip Registrations in RescueGroups.org.  Select the checkboxes next to the chip registrations you wish to remove.  Use the dropdown Actions menu to choose Delete.
3. Re-register the microchip to the new owner.

Common microchip registration errors and messages

This microchip code has already been registered in the registry. You must contact the registry and have them remove the existing registration before you can re-register this microchip.

The microchip is very likely already registered with the Registry.  If you are trying to re-register a microchip you may need to contact the Registry and have the current registration removed before you can retry the registration.

The pet is missing a required field. Please edit the pet and select a value for the field.

The registry requires a value for one of the pet fields, and that value isn't currently provided on the animal that you are trying to register.  Edit the animal and update the field that is shown in the error and retry the registration.

Registration of PetLink microchip not saved for non-PetLink registry.

Datamars microchips are sent only to the PetLink registry.  This message means that the registration of a Datamars microchip will not be sent to a non-PetLink registry (eg., FreePetChipRegistry).