The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Save This Life stopped operating in February 2025. If your pet’s chip was registered with the company, have the chip scanned, use AAHA’s lookup tool to identify its registry, and enroll the number with a functioning provider if necessary. The chip may still work—the urgent concern is whether anyone can access the owner information connected to it.
If your pet’s microchip was registered with Save This Life, check it now. Save This Life stopped operating abruptly in February 2025, and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) removed the company from its Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool after searches and contact attempts failed. The physical chip may still be readable, but the owner information connected to its number may no longer be accessible.
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What the Save This Life shutdown means
A pet microchip is a small implanted RFID identification device. When a compatible scanner passes over it, the chip transmits a unique identification number—usually a 9-, 10-, or 15-digit number.
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- 【Support Multipe Microchip Formats】Universal microchip scanner supports EMID / ISO11784 / ISO11785 / FDX-B（15 digit microchips）. Please note, the microchip reader CAN NOT read Avid chips, and the 9-digit ID can not be recognized. Only the 15-digit international standard protocol can be recognized. Please check the format of the microchip before purchasing.
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- 【 Large Data Storage】Our pet microchip scanner can save 128 animal chips. It can be transferred to a computer or mobile phone via a USB cable connection. Our pet chip scanner also features a data-erase function, refer to the user manual for instructions.
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The chip itself does not store your name, phone number, address, or email address. It also does not provide GPS tracking. Those details are kept by a microchip registry, and a shelter or veterinary practice must be able to access that registry to contact you.
That creates two separate questions:
- Can the chip be read? A scanner may still detect the implanted device and display its identification number.
- Can the number be connected to you? The number must be enrolled with an operating registry containing accurate contact information.
Save This Life’s closure is primarily a registry-access and service-continuity problem, not proof that every Save This Life chip has physically failed. In most cases, there is no reason to surgically remove or replace a readable chip simply because the company that maintained the registration has shut down.
What happened to Save This Life?
AAHA reported on February 11, 2025, that it had disconnected Save This Life from its Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool. Searches for the company were failing, and attempts to contact the business did not produce a usable response. AAHA warned that pets registered through the provider might no longer have accessible owner information attached to their chip numbers.
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A Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control notice dated February 14, 2025, also said that Save This Life had unexpectedly shut down and appeared to have become unlinked from universal lookup tools. The notice advised residents to check their pets’ chips and register the numbers with another service.
AAHA also reported that the Texas Secretary of State listing showed Save This Life as inactive and that its right to do business had ended through an involuntary franchise-tax-related forfeiture. That administrative information does not, by itself, establish the full reason for the operational shutdown. The important point for pet owners is that the service can no longer be treated as a dependable registry.
What to do if your pet may be affected
1. Look for the chip number and registration paperwork
Check adoption records, veterinary files, vaccination paperwork, shelter documents, invoices, and previous microchip certificates. The number may be listed as a 9-, 10-, or 15-digit identifier.
Do not post the full microchip number, your address, phone number, or other personal information publicly. Keep the number with your pet’s private records instead.
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- [Support Multiple Protocols] - Support ISO11784(85)/FDX-B/EMID 10/15 digit microchips.Microchips in other formats cannot be read. Please confirm whether your microchip is compatible before purchasing.(Does not read AVID microchip).
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- [Built-in Hardware Has Veen Fully Upgraded] - It uses the latest technology scanning chip compared to older scanners. Now the energy consumption is greatly reduced and the performance is greatly improved.
- [Data storage] - Storage capacity is equal to 128 sets of data.USB upload to computer.
2. Have your pet scanned
If you cannot find the number—or are unsure whether the paperwork matches your pet—ask a veterinarian, animal shelter, rescue organization, or animal-control agency to scan the animal.
Ask the professional to scan thoroughly, because chips can occasionally migrate from their original implantation area. Have the number written down exactly, including all digits, and ask whether the scanner can detect the chip’s manufacturer or format.
3. Use AAHA’s Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool
Enter the scanned chip number into AAHA’s free lookup tool. Its purpose is to identify the registry or registries associated with a chip number so that you know whom to contact.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesAAHA’s tool is not one single national owner database, and AAHA does not hold every registry record. It functions as a lookup mechanism connecting a chip number with participating registries. A search result therefore tells you where to investigate; it does not by itself prove that your owner record is active or current.
4. Treat a Save This Life result as a reason to act
If the number points to Save This Life, or if your paperwork says the chip was registered there, do not assume that the old registration has automatically transferred elsewhere. Enroll or register the chip with a functioning provider that accepts its brand or chip format.
Before finishing, check that the new provider has recorded:
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- ❤ Efficient Data Management – Built-in storage holds up to 128 tags, eliminating redundant scanning and improving efficiency. The USB transfer feature allows seamless data upload to computers or mobile devices for backup, analysis, and sharing, making it ideal for pet owners, farms, and research institutions.
- ❤ Portable & Durable Design – Lightweight and easy to carry, suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The robust casing provides strong impact resistance, ensuring stable performance in farms, field research, and rescue operations, even in harsh conditions.
- ❤ Built-in Rechargeable Battery – Eliminates the need for frequent battery replacements, with USB charging for convenience. Includes an auto-shutdown function after 180 seconds of inactivity or manual shutdown with a 3-second press.
- ❤ Support turn on/off the pet reader prompt sound. The pet reader is equipped with a speaker, when you scan successfully, the pet reader will "di" to indicate that the scan is successful. If your pet is afraid of the sound of the card reader, please check the instructions in the package and follow the instructions to turn off the sound.
- Your current mobile and landline numbers, if applicable
- Your current email address
- Your physical address
- An alternate emergency contact who can reach you or arrange care for the pet
- Your veterinarian’s information, where requested
- The pet’s name, description, and medical or behavioral notes that could help with identification
5. Confirm that the new record is actually active
Registration is not complete merely because you submitted a form or received a confirmation email. Contact the new registry or follow its verification process and ask:
- Is the chip number searchable in your system?
- Is my contact information attached to this exact number?
- Will your recovery team contact me if a shelter or veterinarian reports the number?
- Was this a new enrollment, or was an existing record transferred?
- Are there any eligibility, ownership, geographic, or fee conditions I need to know about?
Keep the confirmation and the chip number with your pet’s permanent records.
6. Update the record whenever something changes
A microchip is only as useful as the information attached to it. Update the record after moving, changing phone numbers, changing email addresses, giving the pet to a new owner, or adding an emergency contact. AAHA also recommends having the chip checked periodically, particularly during routine veterinary visits.
7. Keep a visible collar ID tag
AAHA recommends current identification tags in addition to microchipping. A finder can read a phone number on a collar without locating a scanner, logging into a registry, or waiting for a shelter to open.
A personalized pet ID tag can provide immediate contact information while you verify or restore the microchip record. Put a current phone number on the tag and check it whenever the tag becomes worn or your contact details change. The tag complements the microchip; it does not replace registration.
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No single alternative should be presented as automatically replacing Save This Life for every pet. Policies, eligibility rules, fees, and enrollment procedures can change, so verify the current terms and confirm the registration after submission.
AKC Reunite
AKC Reunite’s published information says that it accepts any brand of microchip and supports enrollment or transfer. It also describes nationwide, 24/7 recovery assistance and says it does not charge annual or update fees for as long as the owner owns the pet. Its site displays a lifetime enrollment price, but check the current amount before enrolling because prices and terms may change.
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- Stores lost pets chip numbers
- Alerts the user that a pet is missing
- Rechargeable by plugging into a pc
- Reads most microchips in pets, dogs, cats
Ask AKC Reunite whether your specific chip number can be enrolled and whether the transaction is a new registration or a transfer attempt. Do not assume that an old Save This Life record has been copied automatically.
24Petwatch
24Petwatch’s U.S. service policy states that registering a new dog or cat microchip or transferring a registration to a new owner carries no fee under the policy’s conditions. Review the current policy and eligibility requirements for your specific chip before relying on that option.
AAHA’s lookup tool
AAHA remains useful for finding which registry is associated with a chip number, especially when you have no paperwork. It is not, however, a substitute owner registry. After the lookup, you still need to complete enrollment with an operating provider and verify the record.
Petco Love Lost
Petco Love Lost can be a useful additional lost-and-found resource. AAHA has reported that it supports searches by microchip number, including cases in which a chip has never been registered, and also offers animal-image matching.
Use it as a complementary recovery tool—not as a replacement for maintaining a functioning microchip-registry record. If your pet is missing, create or update the Petco Love Lost listing while also contacting shelters, animal control, veterinarians, and the chip registry.
SavingLife is not established as Save This Life’s successor
A separate organization using the name SavingLife advertises a free microchip registry and pet-identification products. The available information does not establish that it is the successor to Save This Life. Do not assume the names indicate continuity, and independently verify the organization, its policies, and the status of any record before using it.
What not to assume
- A successful scan does not prove protection. It only proves that a scanner read a number.
- The chip is not GPS. It cannot show a pet’s live location.
- The chip is not automatically defective. The documented concern is the inaccessible or unreliable registry connection.
- Re-registration is not necessarily an automatic transfer. Confirm exactly what the new provider did with the chip number.
- AAHA is not a universal owner database. Its lookup tool helps identify participating registries.
- A registry is not a substitute for a collar tag. Use both systems.
If your pet is already missing
Take the following steps immediately:
- Ask local shelters, animal control, rescue groups, and veterinary hospitals to scan the chip if the pet is found.
- Give them the exact chip number and a recent photograph, while protecting your personal information from public posts.
- Search the chip number through AAHA’s lookup tool and contact every registry identified.
- Search and create a listing on Petco Love Lost, including an accurate photo and identifying details.
- Contact the last known Save This Life-related provider information, if available, but do not wait for a response before pursuing a functioning registry and local shelter network.
- Post current contact information on the collar or use a temporary tag if the pet is recovered.
Bottom line
Save This Life’s shutdown does not mean that every implanted chip must be removed. It means owners should no longer assume that a Save This Life registration will reliably connect a found pet with its family.
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- UNIVERSAL MICROCHIP COMPATIBILITY: Reads all ISO microchips plus 9-, 10-, and 15-digit chips from any brand. Ideal for scanning horses, livestock, pets, and other animals in clinics, shelters, barns, or field settings.
- BLUETOOTH CONNECTIVITY FOR FAST, ACCURATE DATA TRANSFER: Easily sends scanned chip numbers to Bluetooth-enabled devices within a 25-foot range for quick syncing to computers, tablets, or shelter management software. Reduces manual data entry errors and speeds up check-in and intake processes—perfect for busy clinics or multi-pet facilities.
- BACKLIT LCD SCREEN WITH 15-MINUTE DISPLAY HOLD: Features a bright blue backlit LCD screen with bold white text displaying the full chip number on one line for easy reading—day or night. The 15-minute display hold gives ample time to record the scan without rushing, ideal for high-volume or field settings.
- RECHARGEABLE BATTERY WITH AUTO POWER-SAVE MODE: Includes a rechargeable 9V battery and charging unit for long-lasting performance. The auto shut-off function conserves power between uses—great for mobile vets, rescue teams, or animal control officers who need dependable scanning during long sessions.
- LIGHTWEIGHT, DURABLE DESIGN WITH PROTECTIVE CASE: This 7-inch handheld microchip scanner is compact, ergonomic, and easy to carry. Includes a protective carrying case to guard the reader during storage and transport. Built for dependable use in clinics, shelters, barns, or field settings.
Scan the pet, look up the number, identify the registry, enroll it with a functioning provider if needed, verify the contact record, and keep a visible ID tag on the collar. The physical chip is only the identifier; the accessible registry record and accurate owner information are what make that identifier useful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my pet need a new microchip because Save This Life shut down?
No. The shutdown does not prove that the implanted chip itself has failed or must be surgically removed. Have the pet scanned and connect the chip number with a functioning registry instead.
Is AAHA’s lookup tool the new replacement registry?
No. AAHA’s Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool helps identify the registry associated with a chip number; it is not itself one centralized national owner database. You still need to enroll the chip with an operating provider and confirm the record.
Can a pet microchip track my pet’s location?
No. A microchip transmits an identification number when scanned. It does not store contact details and does not provide GPS location tracking.
What should I do if I cannot find my pet’s microchip number?
Ask a veterinarian, shelter, rescue organization, or animal-control agency to scan your pet. Then enter the number into AAHA’s lookup tool and contact the registry identified.
The Bottom Line
Act now if Save This Life appears anywhere in your pet’s records: have the chip scanned, use AAHA’s lookup tool, enroll the number with a functioning registry, confirm your contact details, and keep a current collar tag. The chip may still work; the risk is that the registry connection no longer does.
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