For Pet Owners
At AKC CAR, we've made it our mission to recover as many missing pets as possible. We do this by keeping the AKC Companion Animal Recovery ID System affordable and also use our proceeds help to support Canine Support and Relief Fund, Veterinary Student Scholarships, disaster preparedness and relief - and more.
Recovery Service
Our dedicated recovery service professionals are available 24/7 to support you and your pet. Enrollment is a simple, one-time process - and a custom collar tag is included with your enrollment confirmation (regular enrollments to US addresses only). Unlike other recovery services, we do NOT charge you annual subscription fees or record change fees for as long as you own your pet. We enroll all brands of pet microchips, too.
Enroll My Pet Online or Download Enrollment Form.
Collar ID Tags
AKC Companion Animal Recovery collar ID tags are automatically provided with every standard enrollment (US addresses only). Our collar tags provide quick and easy access to dedicated recovery experts via our 24/7 service. Unlike a standard pet tag with one phone number, your privacy is protected while AKC CAR provides the means to contact you via the various ways you may be reached: phone, email, and even text messaging. We can also reach out to any additional contact names that you provide, just in case you cannot be reached. Order Replacement Collar Tags.
Reflective Dog Collars
When enrolled with AKC Companion Animal Recovery, you can order our highly-reflective, personalized dog collars. These are perfect for dogs that spend a lot of time outside – especially at night, or tend to chew their tags, or have collar tags that are constantly "clanking". Enrollment in CAR is required to order this product. Order Reflective Dog Collars.
Microchips
Why should you microchip your pet? Pet microchipping is the permanent identification method of choice to help get a pet home if ever missing. Tattoos fade or become hidden by pet's hair, and collar tags can fall off or break. Once implanted with a microchip your pet has a permanent, unique ID number for its lifetime.
Pet microchipping is a simple procedure that requires no anesthetic. The microchip, only about the size of a grain of rice, is implanted with a needle just beneath the pet's skin between the shoulder blades. After getting a microchip, it is imperative to have the microchip ID number immediately enrolled in a recovery service to ensure you are contacted when your pet, if ever lost, is found.
The microchip itself has no internal energy source. Animal shelters, animal control officers and veterinarians run a microchip scanner over a lost pet's shoulder blades to look for a microchip. When the microchip is detected, the scanner displays the microchip's unique ID number. This ID number is used to identify your pet and retrieve your contact information to call you and reunite you with your pet.
Lost Pet Alert
Lost pet alerts are the most proactive way to notify a virtual community of pet lovers in your area to be on the lookout for your lost or stolen pet. This service complements your pet's microchip enrollment by broadcasting your lost pet's information to animal shelters, veterinarians and pet lovers in your immediate area interested in helping with your pet's safe return home. With the AKC CAR Lost Pet Alert you also have access to an online Lost Pet Alert Poster Application to create a custom lost pet poster. Lost Pet Alert Service
You Can Help Lost Pets, Too!
Join our nationwide network of shelters, veterinarians, rescues and pet lovers who proactively help missing pets be reunited with their family. Just think of the joyful feeling and sense of accomplishment from helping a lost pet find his way home... You now can be a part of these happy reunions when you join the AKC CAR Lost Pet Alert Network! As a part of our network, you will only receive an email when a pet goes missing in your immediate area. The email will include a description and photo of the lost pet so you can keep a look out to help with the pet’s safe return home. Join the AKC Companion Animal Recovery Lost Pet Alert Network
Pet Poison Helpline
With your AKC CAR Recovery Service enrollment, you can get immediate treatment advice from animal experts around the clock. If your pet accidentally swallows something poisonous, you need help - fast. And that's just what you'll get with Pet Poison Helpline.
See more information on Pet Poison Helpline.
SpotLight GPS Pet Locator
SpotLight provides you with the next generation of pet locating technology coupled with AKC CAR's nationwide pet recovery service! With SpotLight, you have hands-on tracking of your pet. The SpotLight GPS Pet Locator will allow you to pinpoint through Google Maps where your pet is at any time. Plus, it will send you text and email alerts should your pet wander outside of its "SafeSpot", boundaries that you set for your pet's safety.
Update My Pet Records
We encourage you to keep your records updated so that we can quickly return your pet home. Unique to AKC Companion Animal Recovery service, you can make unlimited free updates, including phone number and address changes. Even if you go on a short vacation with your pet, please update your online records with your temporary address and phone number.
Transfer Your Pet
Ensure peace of mind for new pet owners, and transfer pet records to pass along the benefits that microchipping and enrollment to new pet owners.
Report a Lost or Found Pet
Please use our 24-hour Recovery Hotline to Report a Lost or Found Pet: 1-800-252-7894.
Traveling Overseas with Your Pet
Questions About Microchipping Pets
Questions About Enrolling in AKC CAR Recovery Service