MicroChip. Am I a mean owner?

 My dogs had it done while they were awake and you would never know they felt a thing. They didn't even flinch. Our county animal control does free microchip clinics so that is where I got mine done. You pay high premiums at the vet to get it done. I am lucky I have such a great animal control here. They do free (or close to free spueters), $5 rabies, distemper, etc. shots, free microchipping and so on.

Depends on the company, as the microchips vary in size.

 The Home Again is quite large.  I had my Marlin done while he was awake -- NEVER will I put one of my pets through that again.  It will wait till they are under for something.

 I've had several dogs chipped while they were awake. Our first dog, when we got him from the shelter, they didn't chip right away.  Once you had the dog a month, you brought it back to one of the adoption days, they were at Petsmart on the weekends, and they chipped the dog. We took him down an empty aisle, I hugged him and someone chipped him. He didn't  flinch, or make any noises, so I don't think he felt it. Another dog was done right before we left the county SPCA. I didn't see her, but they just did it in a back room. That was their common procedure. She didn't display any signs of discomfort, and she was only gone for about a minute. Callie was chipped at a pet store by a local group. Much cheaper than the vet, as someone else mentioned. I just held her like I did the other dog, and they put the chip in. I was holding them just to keep them still. Callie would have said something if it hurt. She didn't react at all.

Luke got chipped during his neuter, because that's just what my vet usually does. I'd have to ask if they would do it while a dog was awake.

I've had mine all done at "events" -- totally awake, no problem at all. 

I've seen literally just two dogs react (and I've seen TONS of chippings) and in both of those cases the owners were extremely tense and it was pretty apparent the person doing it did NOT know what they were doing and were nervous themselves.  I only paid $15 to have it done (and it was a fund-raiser so I was fine with that price)  but because of what I'd seen before I watched 4-5 dogs getting done and there was NO problem, and so I went ahead and NONE of mine had the slightest problem.

I've had 2 dogs (one aas an adult and one as a 3-4 month old puppy) and a 5 pound rabbit micro chipped.  All three were fully awake at the time. 

 Came back to read the other replies.

 I'll add this (repeating myself):  when you go to 'an event,' be sure to check WHICH COMPANY the microchips are with.  There are MANY small companies out there and SOMETIMES this is why the cost is lower.

 My city does microchipping at the shelter a few times a year.  It is some company I've not ever heard of.  Even our SHELTER does not have a scanner for that company's chips!  They only have 2 scanners, one for Home Again and one for Avid.  Two of my dogs, Lacey and one who has now passed on, were done with Avid as that is what my vet used to use.  The other dogs are done with Home Again.

Vets typically use a big company as there are more services provided, the scanners are more widely available.  Small events often are having the microchips donated by a small company who is starting out in a new geographical area.

 When you report your pet is lost to Home Again, they send out faxes to vet practices and shelters within a 50 mile range of where you lost the dog.  Avid does not do this.  The smaller companies, well, not only do they not do that, but their scanners are not available so if your lost pet IS picked up no one can trace the pet back to you anyway.

Freedom

... My city does microchipping at the shelter a few times a year.  It is some company I've not ever heard of.  Even our SHELTER does not have a scanner for that company's chips!...

Is it possible they are using one of the newer "universal" chips, and that your shelter has older scanners?  I believe there are newer scanners out now that don't actually read the info on other brand chips, but do acknowledge that there is a chip. 

 Hooray!  Glad THAT is over and done ha haaa.