For National Chip Your Pet Month, nonprofit offers clinics on May 2, 7, 16, and 21

NORTH COUNTY — In honor of National Chip Your Pet Month, and with the help of 24PetWatch microchip registry, Woods Humane Society has announced four free microchip clinics to help members of the public protect their pets if they ever become lost. The free clinics are by appointment only and will be held at Woods North County on Friday, May 2 and 16, from 2 to 4 p.m. and at Woods SLO on Wednesday, May 7 and 21, from 2 to 4 p.m.

Microchips, which normally cost $20 at Woods Humane Society, are about the size of a grain of rice and are implanted just under the skin. Each chip contains a unique code that can be scanned easily by a veterinarian or an animal shelter employee to look up the pet owner’s contact information in an online national database like 24PetWatch.

“Time and time again, we have seen animals labeled as ‘strays’ come into the shelter only to learn with a quick scan that they have a loving family looking for them,” says Woods CEO Emily L’Heureux. “Microchips are tiny, harmless, and inexpensive, but they make a huge impact. They enable us to reunite pets with grateful families and keep owned animals out of the shelter so that we can reserve that space for animals who are truly without a home. All Woods animals are microchipped before being adopted, and we highly recommend all pet owners take this step for the sake of their own pets,and for those in need of shelter.”

The American Humane Association estimates that 10 million pets are lost in the United States each year, and only 15 percent of lost dogs and 2 percent of lost cats in shelters without ID tags or microchips are reunited with their owners. Pets with microchips are 20 times more likely to be reunited with their owners.

In advance of summer adventures and Fourth of July fireworks, especially, Woods Humane Society says it is crucial that pet owners protect their pets by microchipping and making sure their microchip registration is up-to-date with current contact information.

Local pet owners can find more information or make an appointment to get their pets microchipped for free at either Woods location by visiting  woodshumanesociety.org/microchip. Woods Humane Society is located at 875 Oklahoma Ave., San Luis Obispo and at 2300 Ramona Road, Atascadero.

Feature Image: Woods Clinic will be offering microchip clinics four times this month, imbedding pets with the small chips to protect them if they ever get lost. Contributed Photo