posted
on Monday, August 7, 2017
in
Pet PSA
Chances are you’ve heard of the term microchipping from your family, friends, and veterinarian, but you may not know what it means. And that’s okay, because we’re going to change that right now!
What is a microchip?
A microchip is a small identification tag that is inserted under the skin of an animal. (It’s even smaller than a grain of rice!)
What is microchipping?
Microchipping is the noninvasive procedure of inserting a microchip under an animal’s skin using a syringe.
Why should I get my pet microchipped?
You should get your pets microchipped for their safety and your peace of mind. Let’s say your pet sneaks passed you as you open the door to get the morning paper, snags his collar on a bush, and runs off. Now your dog is running around town without identification.
If someone finds your pet and takes him to an animal shelter or vet clinic, the staff on duty will scan him with a microchip reader. If he is microchipped, the scanner will beep and give the staff member the chip number, which they can then look up in the microchip system and contact you!
However, if your pet is not microchipped, the staff now has no way of contacting you, causing more time apart from your furry family member.
How do I get my pet microchipped?
Your veterinarian can microchip your pet, and the ARL has microchipping events throughout the year. Most veterinarians will microchip an animal once it has reached four months of age, but some animals may need to wait a little longer if they’re too small.