Pethealth acquiring microchip registry operations

Last month, Fairfax company and a provider of pet insurance Pethealth announced it’s acquiring the microchip registry operations of Michelson Found Animals, a Los Angeles-based animal welfare organization.

The organization was founded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when several pets become separated from their family with no way to find their way home. It was the first free national pet microchip registry and one of the largest in the US with more than 5 million pets.

Now, Michelson Found Animals is transitioning its microchip registry business to a new owner that will continue expanding the registry, serving pet parents and supporting the advancement of animal welfare.

Pethealth, under its 24PetWatch brand, launched its free microchip registry in 2003 and now manages a lost pet recovery database of more than 10 million pets. Once a done deal, Pethealth will be the largest North American provider of microchips and lost pet recovery services for companion animals .

“The success of the Found Animals Registry inspired others in the industry to reduce or eliminate costs for pets and their families. Today, free microchip registry services are standard, ensuring that as many pets as possible are registered to their owners and can be returned home. With Pethealth, we have found a committed new owner for the registry who will bring to life its next chapter in serving people and pets.” – Brett Yates, CEO of the Michelson Found Animals Foundation.