I don't think it's legally required for vets to check chips whenever new "owners" take them in for a visit. I've been holding out hope for reuniting with my missing cat Salt, but wherever he is, he's happily in someone else's living room. And I doubt the microchip will bring him back anytime soon. Sadly cat snatching is a real thing that's happened to me possibly twice. The first time was confirmed beyond a doubt; I…
> The risks come with the territory To be clear here, the “territory” here is letting your pet free roam off of your property and expecting everybody else to be cool with that?
It's always so frustrating when you've been doing something for 15 years, speak from experience, and then someone comes along and says "Well, that's bad!" Sure. Meanwhile, my cat comes home happy and healthy each night, unless "everybody else" decides to steal him in the guise of doing him a favor.
Verified microchips during vet appointments would cancel out this exploit.