May is National Chip Your Pet Month. We all know we should microchip our pets. But do we actually understand why?
Over 10 million pets are reported missing each year. TEN MILLION! That’s a lot of missing animals. Only one in five dogs and one in fifty cats will be reunited with their family. While ID tags are definitely a good idea, tags (or the whole collar) can fall off, and once they’re gone, they are no longer going to help get your pet home.
A pet microchip is small, about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted with a wide-bore needle just under the skin between the shoulders. Although not painless, it’s just slightly more painful than getting annual vaccinations, and may be just as life-saving.
There are numerous benefits to microchipping…..
The only maintenance a microchip requires is that you keep your information up to date in the registry. Sadly, this is a problem in far too many lost pet situations. It’s heartbreaking for that vet staff member to scan a dog or cat, discover that it’s chipped, then discover that the information has never been updated so that pet is not going to get back home.
During the month of May if you email us, we will make sure your pet’s information is updated in your chip registry! That’s right, give us the chip number/company, pet info and your contact info and we will do the work of making sure it’s updated! Zero work for you, and your pet will have a much better chance of returning home if lost. If you don’t know your pet’s chip number or which company it’s registered with, you can take him/her to any vet or animal shelter and they can scan the chip and give you that information free of charge.
If your pet is not microchipped, you can find low cost microchipping clinics each weekend. Just Google “low cost microchip near me” or, if you live in Dallas, your pet can be microchipped for just $15 at Dallas Animal Services.
Now is the time to take action and make sure your pet is protected!
Other Pet Holidays this month/week:
Over 10 million pets are reported missing each year. TEN MILLION! That’s a lot of missing animals. Only one in five dogs and one in fifty cats will be reunited with their family. While ID tags are definitely a good idea, tags (or the whole collar) can fall off, and once they’re gone, they are no longer going to help get your pet home.
A pet microchip is small, about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted with a wide-bore needle just under the skin between the shoulders. Although not painless, it’s just slightly more painful than getting annual vaccinations, and may be just as life-saving.
There are numerous benefits to microchipping…..
- A microchip is permanent and won’t be separated from your pet. They also last a lifetime. No need to replace due to loss or rubbed off information, and no batteries required!
- A microchip greatly increases the likelihood that your pet will be returned to you if they are lost. Studies show that cats with microchips are 20 times more likely to be returned to their owner and chipped dogs are 2.5 times more likely to be returned.
- If your dog or cat is lost or stolen, the chip and its registration is absolute proof of ownership. This is particularly helpful in the case of stolen pets when ownership might be in dispute.
- In the city of Dallas microchipping is required by law! You can be fined for having an unchipped pet.
The only maintenance a microchip requires is that you keep your information up to date in the registry. Sadly, this is a problem in far too many lost pet situations. It’s heartbreaking for that vet staff member to scan a dog or cat, discover that it’s chipped, then discover that the information has never been updated so that pet is not going to get back home.
During the month of May if you email us, we will make sure your pet’s information is updated in your chip registry! That’s right, give us the chip number/company, pet info and your contact info and we will do the work of making sure it’s updated! Zero work for you, and your pet will have a much better chance of returning home if lost. If you don’t know your pet’s chip number or which company it’s registered with, you can take him/her to any vet or animal shelter and they can scan the chip and give you that information free of charge.
If your pet is not microchipped, you can find low cost microchipping clinics each weekend. Just Google “low cost microchip near me” or, if you live in Dallas, your pet can be microchipped for just $15 at Dallas Animal Services.
Now is the time to take action and make sure your pet is protected!
Other Pet Holidays this month/week:
- National Pet Month.
- Responsible Animal Guardian Month.
- Lyme Disease Prevention Month.
- Pet Cancer Awareness Month.
- Chip Your Pet Month.
- May 1, 2019: National Purebred Dog Day.
- May 3, 2019: National Specially-Abled Pets Day.
- May 5, 2019: Mayday for Mutts.