Richmond SPCA offering microchipping to find lost pets
As reported by the Richmond Times Dispatch: The Richmond SPCA is doing what it can to make it easier to reunite lost pets with their owners. On Monday, the nonprofit organization will hold a three-hour clinic during which dogs and cats will have a tracking microchip injected under their skin for $20. Typically, animals adopted from the […]
As reported by the Richmond Times Dispatch:
The Richmond SPCA is doing what it can to make it easier to reunite lost pets with their owners.
On Monday, the nonprofit organization will hold a three-hour clinic during which dogs and cats will have a tracking microchip injected under their skin for $20. Typically, animals adopted from the SPCA are implanted with chips, but the group wanted to broaden the program to include other pets.
Robin Starr, chief executive officer of Richmond SPCA, says the clinic, in part, stems from recent stories of pets being euthanized because they were lacking proper identification. This includes an incident last month in Hanover County.
“We have really been cognizant of the recent, very upsetting stories of people losing their pets and having a difficult time finding them, when in fact the pets have been in animal control shelters,” Starr said.
The chip is injected between the animals’ shoulder blades, providing permanent identification. Should a lost animal be found by a local animal control shelter or a private humane organization, the animal is scanned for the chip, alerting the agency to the contact information for the owners.
“Any identification on a pet . . . is very important. That’s why this is a tremendous opportunity for the public, because a microchip is a permanent means of identification that the dog or cat cannot lose,” said Sgt. Kevin M. Kilgore, chief of animal control for Hanover County. “Microchips have been proven to save countless lives.”
Pet owners living in the city of Richmond and counties of Hanover, Henrico, Chesterfield and Goochland are eligible to participate. Pet licenses will be available for those living in Richmond and Hanover County.
Starr said she urges owners with indoor pets to participate in the clinic and said owners should put collars on their pets as an added means of identification.
“My cats stay indoors all the time, but they are microchipped because there is always a risk they may slip out an open door. You never know what might happen,” she said.
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