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Magazine article
Thousands of Australian pets may soon have ‘useless’ microchips. It’s a symptom of a bigger problem
The Conversation
11/02/2025
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Abstract
Late last year, rumours swirled online that HomeSafeID, a private Australian pet microchip registry, had stopped operating.
On Feburary 5 2025, a notice appeared on the HomeSafeID website, ostensibly from the site’s administrator. It states the website “is likely to go offline” soon due to unpaid bills. This means the database of information stored on HomeSafeID would also go offline.
There has been no official word from HomeSafeID as to the status of the company. HomeSafeID did not respond when The Conversation reached out for comment.
According to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), the company is still registered and no insolvency notice has been published. However, it’s possible HomeSafeID has stopped operating or will do so in the near future.
If this happens, any pet with a HomeSafeID registered microchip would no longer have searchable microchip details. If these pets become lost, vets and shelters will have no way of finding or verifying their owner.
The situation is a symptom of a bigger problem with pet microchip registries in Australia – a lack of national oversight.
Details
- Title
- Thousands of Australian pets may soon have ‘useless’ microchips. It’s a symptom of a bigger problem
- Creators
- Bronwyn Orr - Southern Cross University
- Publication Details
- The Conversation
- Publisher
- The Conversation Media Group Ltd
- Identifiers
- 991013259608902368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Magazine article