Woods Humane Society offers four free pet microchip clinics in May
Clinics scheduled for May at San Luis Obispo and Atascadero locations
– Woods Humane Society will host four free microchip clinics in May in recognition of National Chip Your Pet Month. The clinics, made possible with support from 24PetWatch, will be available by appointment only.
The free clinics will take place at the North County location on May 2 and May 16 from 2 to 4 p.m., and at the San Luis Obispo location on May 7 and May 21 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Microchips, which typically cost $20 at Woods Humane Society, are implanted just under the skin and contain a unique code. This code can be scanned by veterinarians or animal shelter staff to access the pet owner’s contact information through a national online registry such as 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,” said Woods Humane Society 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. Of those found in shelters without identification tags or microchips, only 15 percent of dogs and 2 percent of cats are reunited with their owners. Pets with microchips are 20 times more likely to be returned to their families.
Woods Humane Society emphasized the importance of microchipping, especially ahead of summer travel and Fourth of July fireworks, and urged pet owners to ensure their registration information is current.
Appointments for the free microchip clinics can be made at woodshumanesociety.org/microchip. Woods Humane Society operates two locations: 875 Oklahoma Ave. in San Luis Obispo and 2300 Ramona Rd. in Atascadero.
