They use RFID/NFC but at a lower frequency that your phone can read. There are pet chip readers for as low as $18 on Amazon. Might be awkward getting caught scanning your friend’s pet though, and I’m not sure you’d get their info.
The one time I found a stray dog the chip only gave a number. The dog also had a collar that had that number on it and a website like FindMyDog or something. But when I put that number in, it just gave info for a local shelter. I went to the shelter and they confirmed it was a microchip number and they had records showing they had owned that chip but had given that chip to another shelter. The second shelter gave me the owner’s info.
So, basically, I think the pet owner has to upload their info to a pet finder website, or else a vet can look up where the chip came from and whoever implanted it might be able to give you the owner’s info.
whaleross@lemmy.world 9 months ago
I believe they can be read by anything that can read rfid and can access the online database for information for that serial number.