Microchipping your pet is a permanent, unalterable identification system that creates a unique code for your animal.  It is a computer chip, the size of a grain of rice, which is inserted between the animal's shoulder blades.  It requires no anesthesia and is painless.  It is injected subcutaneously, cannot be tampered with and may be done as early as 3 months of age.  It is a one time fee which can cost from $25 to $40.  In some cities, it is offered free to residents.  A scanner detects the chip number.  Scanners are used at shelters and animal control facilities to locate the original owner.  If your pet is lost and has been picked up by animal control, they will scan for a chip.  If your animal is lucky enough to have one, you will be alerted immediately!  

Please be advised that:

1.  This does not mean that your animal should not wear a collar with tags and not be licensed.  (Name of animal and contact# is necessary, however, not 100% dependable).  Tags can fade, rust, can be scratched, tear or slip off.

2.  17% of lost dogs and 2% of cats ever find their way back from shelters to their original owners without some form of identification.

3.  20,000,000 animals are euthanized every year, because their owners can't be found.

4.  Unfortunately, many people who find lost animals are reluctant to turn them into animal control services, and opt to keep them or find private shelters who will accept them.

PLEASE BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR PETS!  THEY ARE A PART OF YOUR FAMILY!!!!!!!!

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