Today is National Check the Chip Day, and Alley Cat Allies is reminding the world about the power of the microchip. With this tiny technology, a quick scan may just save a cat’s life.

The happy reunion stories happen all around the world. Thanks to a microchip, the Alley Cat Allies Recovery Center® in Northern California was able to reunite Dexter the cat with his family after he spent almost 100 days alone in the burn zone of the deadly Camp Fire. In Connecticut, Dooley the cat finally came home after three years because an animal control officer scanned her for her microchip.

Overseas, Bear the Burmese cat was brought home after wandering a whopping 200 miles away from his family in Cardiff, Wales. The RSPCA could never have known where he belonged without scanning for his microchip. Microchips also brought Loki, Miss Lucy, and Mario back to their familiesand that’s just scratching the surface.

These reunions may feel like a miracle in the moment, but they’re far from it. It all comes down to making sure every cat you care for, whether they live indoors or outdoors, is microchipped with your up-to-date contact information. According to a study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, cats who are microchipped are over 20 times more likely to be reunited with their families.

But a microchip can do nothing unless someone scans for it. That’s why it’s so important to always “˜check the chip.’

Alley Cat Allies’ Plan to Scan® campaign educates veterinary professionals, shelter staff, and animal control officers to always scan a cat for a microchip the moment she enters their care. Because the sooner a cat is scanned, the sooner she can go home.

Most cats brought to animal shelters will likely be killed, so that quick turnaround makes all the difference.

Alley Cat Allies is always developing new resources to make it quick, easy, and fun to educate your community about microchipping and scanning. This Check the Chip Day, make a commitment to hang our new Plan to Scan® and Microchips Save Lives posters in veterinary offices, shelters, shopping mallsanywhere. You can also grab the new postcards of our Plan to Scan® and Microchips Save Lives information. It’s lifesaving knowledge literally in the palm of your hand!

We can save more cats’ lives together by spreading the word about microchips, today and every day.