One in Three Pets will Become Lost at Some Time In Their Life
Animal Protective Foundation Encourages
Microchipping for a Safe Return Home
It is estimated that one in every three pets will become lost at some point in their lifetime. And without proper identification, the chances that a pet will be returned to its owner are greatly diminished.
In conjunction with National Pet ID Week (April 16 – 22), Animal Protective Foundation, a humane society located in Scotia, is encouraging all pet owners to take proactive steps to protect their dogs and cats in three ways:
• Have your dog properly licensed;
• Have your dog and cat wear a collar with an ID tag, including your name and contact information;
• Have a microchip implanted in your dog and cat in the event that their collar and exterior ID is lost or removed.
“APF takes in approximately 1,700 dogs and cats that are lost, surrendered or abandoned each year, and the vast majority have no ID,” said Deb Balliet, executive director. “We work very hard to identify the owners of the lost or abandoned pets through area missing pet registries, but the surest way for someone to find a lost pet is through the use of a microchip.”
A microchip is a small computer chip, about the size of a grain of rice, that is implanted under the animal’s skin, between the shoulder blades by a veterinarian or licensed veterinary technician. The chip contains a unique number that is used as an identifier when scanned by a shelter or veterinary clinic. Once the chip is implanted, pet owners register the number and their personal contact information in an online database. APF recommends registering your pet’s microchip for free at foundanimals.org.
APF offers microchipping services for any pet owner for $15, by appointment only. Implanting a chip takes only a few minutes and can be done, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Appointments can be made by calling APF at (518) 374-3944 X 120.
APF also implants microchips in all dogs and cats that are available for adoption in advance of going to their “forever homes.”
“APF is dedicated to reducing the number of homeless dogs and cats in the Capital Region,” Ms. Balliet said. “Our microchipping service plays an important role in that, as does our low-cost, high-quality spay and neuter clinic.”
In 2016, APF implanted more than 500 microchips and provided spay or neuter services to more than 3,400 animals.
