Proper pet ID
As mentioned in several previous articles, the folks at the Humane Society of Imperial County cannot express how important it is to have proper identification on pets at all times. Last week a family came into the shelter with a small dog that they had found that had been hit by a car.
The little dog was in very bad shape and had looked like he had been suffering for quite some time.
We suggested that the people who found the dog take him to one of the local veterinarians to be looked at. One of our staff members had made several posts on several local Facebook pet pages and after about an hour, we were able to make contact with the owners. The owners went down to the veterinarian’s office where the dog was hospitalized and proceeded to follow through with treatment.
Sadly, because the injuries that little doggy had sustained and because help came a little too late, the little doggy did not make it through the night. By no means was this a case of carelessness or neglect.
When we made contact with the owners they were extremely concerned, took immediate action, and paid several hundreds of dollars to save their fur-child even though they knew the odds were not in their favor.
We understand that accidents do happen, but accidents can easily be prevented. Making sure that pets have properly fitted collars or harnesses on with ID tags (with current contact information) at all times is one very simple way to help a lost pet find its way home. Customized name tags can be purchased at either of our local Petco or Petsmart stores.
Even if you are not able to purchase a name tag, writing the name of your pet and your current phone number on the collar of your pet with a permanent marker is a cheap and easy solution.
Sometimes though collars fall off or name tags fade. This is when having your pet microchipped eliminates any all reasons for your pets to not find its way home if by chance he or she becomes lost.
It is a quick and permanent solution!
Microchips are implanted under the skin and in between the shoulder blades of the pet; very similar to how a vaccine is administered to a pet. Implanting a microchip does not require any anesthesia and there is no down time. Implanting the microchip takes but just a second or two and it’s done!
In fact, the registration paperwork for the microchip takes longer to fill out than the implantation itself. You might be asking “Well, how exactly do microchips work?” Microchips contain a number that is specific to the pet’s owner.
Once the pet is scanned with a microchip scanner, and number will appear on the scanner’s screen and the microchip company will help the finder of the lost pet make contact with the owner.
Microchipping is also a great way to prove ownership of a pet should there ever be any disputes as to who the legal owner of the pet is.
The microchips that the Humane Society of Imperial County uses have a lifetime registration with no hidden monthly or annual fees. If you need to update the contact information associated with the microchip, you can do so on the internet at any time at no charge.
They also come with a stainless steel tag that has the pet’s fifteen digit microchip number which can be looked up on the internet to help reunite the lost pet with his or her family even faster! The Humane Society of Imperial County offers low-cost microchipping to the community for only $25 per pet. No appointment is needed; just make sure to stop by during our regular business hours.
Also, we will be holding an adoption event and providing low-cost microchipping for the community’s pets for only $20 at Tractor Supply Company on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Do your fur-kids a favor and do everything you possibly can to ensure the safety.
Doing so could eliminate unnecessary pain and suffering and it could potentially save their life.
Your pets will love you more for it!
Please keep in mind that if you find a lost pet, you can have the pet scanned for a microchip for free through any of the local vet offices, Animal Control, or at the Humane Society of Imperial County.