You don’t want to be permanently separated from your beloved pets when they go missing, and neither do we.
That’s why FOTAS and the Aiken County Shelter are sponsoring a Free Community Pet Microchipping Event for Aiken County residents this Saturday, Oct. 8, from noon to 2 p.m. If you live in Aiken County, you can bring your dog or cat to the County Animal Shelter, 333 Wire Road and get them microchipped for free! Dogs just need to be leashed and cats must be secure in carriers.
A microchip is a permanent form of ID, registered to a recovery database that holds pet and owner information. It is the size of a grain of rice and inserted under the skin of your dog or cat. The RFID enables it to be read by a microchip scanner when the pet is found and brought to a shelter, rescue or veterinarian. It is the only permanent identification form that can reunite you with your beloved pet. Unlike collars and identification tags, which can break or become worn and illegible, a microchip should last for the life of your pet.
Great pets are lost forever every day
We see so many wonderful lost pets that we are all but certain come from good homes yet are never claimed by their owners – and we have no way of identifying or contacting them. A stray dog or cat can be well-groomed, have a nice collar and be healthy and fixed. But if the pet does not have tags or a microchip, we can only monitor the internet for local sites that post pictures of lost pets (such as Aiken Pets Reunited on Facebook). The pet’s only hope of getting back home is if its owner comes to the shelter and identifies them.
Otherwise, after five days in the shelter, the owner’s cherished pet becomes eligible for adoption.
A tiny chip can save your pet’s life
It is every pet owner’s fear that their dog or cat will unintentionally become separated from them, but it happens all the time. A dog escapes his fenced-in yard, a cat runs out the front door, a dog pops his collar while being leash walked and gets lost…there are so many scenarios.
So if you live in Aiken County, please come to the County Animal Shelter this Saturday and get your pet microchipped for free (normal fee is $25 at the shelter). The procedure takes seconds and no anesthetic is required. The chip is injected between the shoulder blades, and your pet won’t feel a thing. We will even register your information, give you an ID tag and take care of the paperwork. All you have to do is show up with your pet and their proof of rabies vaccination.
It could be the difference between losing your pet forever or getting them back home safe and sound.
For more information about the Oct. 8 Free Community Pet Microchipping Event, please call (803) 642-1537, option 3 or email info@FotasAiken.org.
Their lives are in our hands.
By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director
