Microchip Your Pets May in May for Chip Your Pet Month
May is national Chip Your Pet Month, and a good time to microchip your pet! If your pet is already microchipped, confirm that your contact information correlated with the chip is current.
One in three pets will become lost at some point during their lives. Nobody thinks it will happen to them — until it does. Every year, we receive nearly 15,000 stray pets and only 25% of them are reunited with their families. A microchip with current information and a collar with tags will improve the chance that a pet returns home if lost or stolen.
Think of a microchip as a digital leash. With society opening up, more people are moving around and having visitors, increasing the risk of a pet getting lost. July Fourth is just around the corner too, when we typically see many pets frightened by fireworks run away, so now is really the time to make sure your pet is protected.
Microchipping is permanent pet identification. The process is safe, simple and designed to quickly identify lost pets and reunite them with their owners. The microchip, which is about the size of a grain of rice (12mm), is injected beneath the surface of the pet's skin between the shoulder blades. The process is similar to a routine shot, takes only a few seconds and your pet will not react any more than they would to a vaccination. No anesthetic is required. The chip transmits the identification number to a scanner, which displays the number on the screen. Veterinary offices and shelters can quickly scan lost pets for microchips and contact owners. It is essential for pet parents to keep their microchip contact information up-to-date when they change phone numbers or move.
We offer low-cost microchipping services for $25. To make an appointment, visit sdhumane.org/microchip.
Published: April 29, 2021
