With the recent tragedies in Joplin, MO and western Massachusetts, many pets were lost and displaced, just as the residents were during the tornado.
Shelters invariably see a large influx of stray and unclaimed pets during these natural disasters. Pet owners often search in vain for their lost cat or dog for weeks or months. Sometimes these unclaimed animals are euthanized for space if they end up in a kill shelter.
Reuniting lost pets with their owners is SO much easier if the pet has a microchip. The chip is tiny - the size of a dry grain of rice. It is implanted with a needle typically between the shoulder blades - it only hurts for a second. It contains a number when scanned by a special scanner - every animal shelter and most veterinarian's offices have a scanner. The company that made the microchip has a database that contains the pet owner's information.
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The American Animal Hospital Association also has an online look-up tool. Some will give you the pet owner's information and others will attempt to contact the pet owner on your behalf.
As a mom of three dogs, I will tell you that one day your dog will find a weak spot in your well-fenced yard. Or your cat will see that the neighbor two blocks over leaves food outside for the strays. And they will be lost. It has happened to me. When I lived UpIsland; my oldest dog got out and ended up at a kill shelter. I got her back because of her microchip.
Find out what's happening in East Hamptonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
With the fairly large population of feral and free-roaming cats in the Hamptons, microchips are ESPECIALLY important for cats that go outside.
If your pet is already chipped, contact the company and make sure they have your current contact information.
If not, consider stopping by ARF's Pet Celebration Day today - I will be implanting microchips FOR FREE from 10 to 12.
