Microchip clinic helps pet owners

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It’s every pet owner’s worst fear: Your children accidentally left the front door ajar and your dog or cat scooted out unbeknownst to you.

Or perhaps your area was hit with a natural disaster and your pet became separated from the family.

This is very scary situation for a pet owner – especially if your pet loses his collar or his identification tag information is outdated or worn away.

The good news is that if your pet is microchipped, there’s a much better chance he’ll return home safely. More than 1,200 calls are placed every day to track and reunite microchipped pets with their owners.

Some facts about microchipping:

It is a tiny computer chip, about the size of a grain of rice, that is implanted by an injection under the skin of your pet by a veterinarian, most animals don't even feel the injection.

Each chip has a unique code, which is read with a hand-held scanner. Most animal shelters, veterinary clinics and law enforcement agencies have scanners.

Once the identification number is determined from scanning, the manufacturer is then called and the registered code can then identify the pet and its owner.

The Lakes Area Humane Society, along with Dr. Kraker of Alexandria's Animal Doctor, are offering a special low-cost microchipping clinic for pet owners in the community.

The cost of the procedure is $15 and includes the chip implantation and registration with the manufacturer.

This special clinic will be held on Thursday, September 25 at Alexandria's Animal Doctor from 4 to 6 p.m. Because space is limited, anyone who wishes to take advantage of this offer must stop by the Lakes Area Humane Society shelter to pre-register by September 22. For registration and additional information, call (320) 759-2260.

Tags: microchip, animal, clinic