I've found a dog and want to return it to its owner safely. What are the essential steps to verify ownership using a microchip, and what precautions should I take to avoid common lost pet scams, particularly those involving requests for personal information or payment to psychics?
Navigate to the 'Articles' section of the website. Click on the 'Microchips' category. Identify and extract the essential steps for microchip verification. Navigate back to the 'Articles' section. Click on the 'Lost Pet Scams' category. Identify the scam related to 'Psychics, Animal Communicators, and Dousers'. Locate and click on the article 'Protecting Pet Owners: Keeping Control of Your Information and Outsmarting Scammers' (found under 'Recent Posts' or similar). Identify precautions against scammers attempting to obtain personal information. Synthesize the microchip verification steps and scam prevention advice.
State that a key step for microchip verification is to get the pet scanned at a vet or animal shelter. State that another key step is to use an external lookup service like www.petmicrochiplookup.org to search for owner information. Identify 'Psychics, Animal Communicators, and Dousers' as a scam to avoid. Identify scams where individuals attempt to obtain personal information (e.g., phone numbers, email addresses) as another type to avoid, and mention the importance of controlling your information.