Many shelters now require the microchip use as a condition of dog adoption.
A microchip can aid in the quick recovery of your pet should its collar ID be lost. The chip is smaller than a grain of rice, and inserted permanently in the scruff of a dogs' neck. It is injected by needle, is relatively painless, and takes only a few minutes of time to complete. Most veterinarians have the chips available. Your dog does not have to be AKC registered to participate in the program.