THOUSANDS OF AUSTRALIAN PETS MAY SOON HAVE ‘USELESS’ MICROCHIPS. IT’S A SYMPTOM OF A BIGGER PROBLEM

Late last year, rumors spread that HomeSafeID, a private Australian pet microchip registry, had ceased operations.

On February 5, 2025, a notice appeared on the HomeSafeID website, allegedly from the site’s administrator, stating that the website is “likely to go offline” soon due to unpaid bills, which would result in the database of registered information also becoming inaccessible.

HomeSafeID has not officially confirmed the status of the company and did not respond to requests for comment from The Conversation.

According to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the company is still registered, and no insolvency notice has been published. However, it’s possible that HomeSafeID has either stopped or is about to stop operating.

If this occurs, pets with HomeSafeID-registered microchips will no longer have searchable microchip details. In the event that these pets are lost, vets and shelters would have no means of verifying their owner’s information.

This situation highlights a larger issue with Australian pet microchip registries: the lack of national oversight.

Why should you microchip your pet?

If your pet goes missing, their microchip can help reunite you. Vets and shelters can scan a stray animal’s microchip and search one of the seven microchip registries in Australia to find the pet’s owner and contact them. Microchipping greatly increases the chances of a lost pet being returned to its owner.

Microchipping is a legal requirement in all Australian states and territories, except the Northern Territory (though it is required in the City of Darwin). In New South Wales, failing to microchip a pet can result in fines ranging from A$180 to A$880.

If HomeSafeID goes offline, many pets will have microchips that no longer connect to a database, rendering them essentially ineffective.

While it’s hard to estimate the full scale of the issue, it could impact hundreds of thousands of pets, including those adopted from RSPCA Queensland.

According to ASIC, RSPCA Queensland was a part-owner of HomeSafeID until 2020. A spokesperson for the charity told The Conversation that they no longer have a partnership with HomeSafeID and are unsure of how many animals may be affected. Yesterday, RSPCA Queensland issued a notice advising pet owners to check their registration details.

Where are microchip details stored?

Australia currently has seven pet microchip registries. Five are privately owned, including HomeSafeID, while two are state government-run in New South Wales and South Australia. Pets microchipped in these states are required to be registered with the respective state registry.

The five private registries collectively fund a website called Pet Address, which allows users to search the five private databases to locate their pet’s registration details.

However, Pet Address does not include state registries, which must be searched separately. Only vets and “authorised identifiers” (such as shelters) in NSW have access to the pet owner details stored in that state’s registry.

If a pet moves to another state without updating their registry details, their microchip may not be readable by non-NSW vets or shelters.

Currently, there are no regulations, rules, or guidelines governing how private pet microchip registries operate in Australia. If a microchip database were to cease operating, there would be no system in place to ensure the transfer of information to another database.

What can I do to make sure my pet’s microchip is up to date?

With the current uncertainty surrounding the HomeSafeID registry, pet owners across Australia should check their pets’ microchip numbers and determine which database they’re registered with.

If you’re unsure of your pet’s microchip number, vets and shelters can scan your pet to retrieve the number. Once you have it, you can use Pet Address or check the relevant state registries (NSW or SA) to identify the database where your pet’s information is stored.

If your pet’s microchip is registered with HomeSafeID, it may be wise to transfer their details to another registry. You can do this by contacting one of the other microchip registries and applying to have your pet registered with them (there may be a small fee).

Australia needs national coordination on pet microchipping

Although microchipping dogs and cats is mandatory, it may seem odd that there are no regulations or guidelines regarding how microchip registries should operate. This gap highlights a much larger issue.

In Australia, there is minimal national leadership or collaboration on companion animal matters. Pet-related issues primarily fall under state government jurisdiction, with the federal government mainly involved in the import and export of companion animals.

That said, there are opportunities for national coordination, such as the renewal of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy and the national Animal Health Committee.

Regardless of who takes the lead, it’s clear that a national discussion on pet microchipping is urgently needed. Without action, hundreds of thousands of pets may end up with non-functional microchips, leaving them vulnerable. Lost pets could unnecessarily be placed in shelters or pounds, and those who might have been reunited with their owners could end up being adopted or, in the worst case, euthanized.