June is National Microchipping Month! Microchipping is an easy, safe and effective way to make sure your furry friend always makes their way back home to you. Christina, Interim Head of Shelter Care, shares a little more about the importance of chipping your pet.
What is a microchip?
A microchip is a small pet ID device, about the size of a grain of rice, that gets implanted under the skin of companion animals (typically cats, dogs and rabbits) in between the shoulder blades. The chip has a code that is unique to your pet and contains your contact information. It’s not a tracking device though! If your pet is lost and brought to a vet clinic or animal shelter, the staff can scan for a chip. They’ll get the unique code, call the microchip company, and then you get notified that your pet has been found. Be sure to keep your information up- to- date with the microchip company! As an animal shelter worker, it always bums me out when we get a stray in that has a microchip, but it goes to a phone number that’s been disconnected. We want to reunite you with your pet and need your accurate contact information to be able to do so!
What are the benefits?
It’s a super easy, one-time way to ensure that your pet can be reunited with you if they end up at a shelter or vet clinic. It can also be quite affordable, especially if you get a microchip through Seattle Humane’s Community Clinic or other community clinics around the region. In many cases, cats and dogs—ESPECIALLY cats—have an extremely hard time being reunited with their families if they end up in a shelter. If your cat is indoor/outdoor, you may not notice that they are missing for several days. By that point, your cat may have moved through the shelter system. If they had a chip, it would help prevent that from happening and give the shelter staff an opportunity to get in touch with you.
Where can I get my pet microchipped?
Most vet clinics, low-cost spay/neuter clinics, or community clinics offer microchips! Seattle Humane offers microchipping through our community clinic and spay/neuter clinic for $20. This includes registration!
Where can I learn more?
The American Veterinary Medical Association has a great FAQ page. To learn more about if you qualify for microchipping through Seattle Humane, please visit our Wellness Clinic page.