All animals adopted from the Whidbey Animals Improvement Foundation are now microchipped, the organization announced last week.

Each microchip contains a registration number and phone number of the registry. A handheld scanner reads the radio frequency of the chip to display the information. After scanning the chip, WAIF or a vet clinic can contact the registry to learn the pet owner’s name and phone number, according to a press release.

“Having a pet microchipped can help ensure the chances of having a pet returned to its owner,” WAIF said in the press release.

The organization reported findings that one in three pets will become lost at some point in their life. Microchips are tiny transponders about the size of a grain of rice that are implanted just under a pet’s skin.

In addition to microchipping animals, WAIF ensure that all dogs and cats adopted from the shelter are spayed/neutered and vaccinated.