34.3 million pets live in Germany. 11.5 million of them are registered with TASSO. That sounds like a lot — until you do the maths: over half of all dogs and cats are invisible to the system. If they run away, nobody can identify them.
The problem: Chip ≠ Registration
Many pet owners believe their animal is protected because it's been microchipped. But a chip is simply a tiny transponder with a 15-digit number. Without registration in a database, that number is worthless — like a phone number that isn't in any directory.
- Dog runs away
- Finder takes the dog to a vet
- Vet scans the chip: "Number 276098100123456"
- Vet searches the number on TASSO and FINDEFIX → No match
- Dog goes to a shelter
- Owner searches desperately — doesn't know the dog is sitting in a shelter 3 km away
The numbers
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| Pets in Germany | 34.3 million |
| Registered with TASSO | 11.5 million |
| NOT registered (estimated) | ~54% |
| Missing pets per year | ~116,000+ |
| Chip mandatory (dogs) | Only in 5 of 16 federal states |
| Cost of registration | €0 (free) |
| Time to register | ~5 minutes online |
Why so many aren't registered
- Lack of awareness: Many people don't know that chipping and registration are two separate things
- "My dog would never run away" — the most common and most dangerous assumption
- Procrastination: "I'll do it eventually" — until it's too late
- No legal requirement: In most German states only the chip is mandatory, not the registration. In the UK, registration with a compliant database has been required since 2016.
Where to register?
TASSO (tasso.net): Europe's largest pet register. 11.5 million animals. 24-hour hotline (06190 / 937 300). Volunteer search network across Germany.
FINDEFIX (findefix.com): The register of the German Animal Welfare Federation. Directly linked with over 550 shelters.
In the UK: Registration is mandatory. Approved databases include PetLog, PetScanner and others under the Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations.
Recommendation: Register with as many databases as possible. It's free, takes 5 minutes, and doubles your chances.
And the other 54%?
This is exactly where TierFinder comes in. Our AI matching works entirely without a chip. A photo is all you need. Our image recognition creates a digital profile and compares it against all found-animal reports. For the 54% of unregistered pets, this is often the only chance of being reunited with their owner.
TierFinder doesn't replace TASSO — we bridge the gap that chip registers can't fill.
What's changing: Hamburg 2026
Hamburg is becoming the first major German city to introduce a full chipping AND registration requirement for dogs. This means every dog owner in Hamburg must chip their dog AND register it in a database.
Experts expect other states and cities to follow. Until then: don't wait for legislation. Invest 5 minutes that could change everything in an emergency.
How to register in 5 minutes
- Have the chip number ready (it's in the vaccination record or EU Pet Passport)
- Open tasso.net or findefix.com (or your national register)
- Fill in the form: name, address, pet description, chip number
- Upload a photo
- Done — your pet can now be identified