Microchipping Your Pet: Why and How

As a responsible pet owner, you want to ensure your furry friend is safe and protected. One effective way to achieve this is by microchipping your dog or cat. The Humane Society of St. Joseph County is hosting a free microchip clinic this weekend, providing an opportunity for pet owners to take advantage of this technology.

What is Microchipping?

• Dog and cat microchipping is a simple procedure that can be performed at your veterinarian’s office.
• Pet microchips are small, roughly the size of a grain of rice, and are inserted just beneath your pet’s skin between their shoulder blades.
• Inserting the microchip is quick and safe, similar to a routine shot.

Microchipping does not involve a GPS tracking device, but rather uses radio frequency identification (RFID) to transmit the unique ID number stored on the microchip to a scanning device.

Why Register Your Pet’s Microchip?

1. A pet microchip is only as good as the information linked to it. To ensure your pet’s microchip is effective, you must register it with your contact information.
2. Registration provides your emergency contact information to be linked to the unique microchip number, allowing you to be reached immediately if your pet is lost or found.
3. When a missing pet is found, the shelter, vet, or recovering organization will scan the pet with a specialized microchip scanner to determine if a microchip is present. If the scanner detects the presence of a microchip, it will display only the unique microchip number on the read out.

For example, let’s say your pet is lost and taken to a shelter. The shelter scans your pet with a specialized microchip scanner and detects the presence of a microchip. The scanner displays only the unique microchip number, which is then linked to your contact information in the PetKey database. This allows the shelter to contact you immediately to inform you that your pet has been found.

“The effectiveness of microchipping has been proven through research conducted by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Dr. Linda Lord, an associate professor at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, has conducted studies showing how effective microchips are in reuniting pets with their owners.” – AVMA

What to Expect at the Free Microchip Clinic

• The event is free of charge, but a $10 donation per pet is encouraged for those who are able to give.
• Microchips will be implanted on a first-come, first-served basis using 24PetWatch microchips.
• Supplies are limited, so pre-registration is highly encouraged.

The free microchip clinic will be held on April 19 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Humane Society of St. Joseph County, located at 2506 Grape Rd. in Mishawaka. Pre-registration is highly recommended to ensure a smooth and efficient process.

To prepare for the clinic, please follow these guidelines:

• Dogs must be on a leash with a secure collar/harness or in a humane carrier.
• Cats must be in a secure, humane carrier.
• Pets prone to stress or reactivity should be muzzled or remain in their carrier/vehicle until called.

By microchipping your pet, you can ensure their safety and protection.