Microchip Clinic August 24, 2009

One of the greatest fears of pet owners is the possibility of being separated from a beloved companion. Being prepared for the worst is the best way to confront such fears, and that means ensuring that dogs and cats can be identified and returned home.



The Richmond SPCA is hosting a microchip clinic Monday, Aug. 24 from 5 to 7 p.m. in conjunction with municipal partners Richmond Animal Care & Control and Hanover County Animal Control. During this one-day, special event, area residents may have their cats or dogs microchipped for an affordable $20 fee.



The microchip is implanted under the pet’s skin and provides permanent identification if the pet is ever lost or strays from home. Included in the fee is lifetime registration with the 24PetWatch database. Municipal animal control facilities scan pets for microchips upon intake into their shelters, improving the likelihood pets will be reunited with their families.



Preregistration for the clinic is available online at www.richmondspca.org until Aug. 20 and is encouraged though walk-ins are also welcome. Participants who preregister for the event will advance through an express line and may also choose to have an identification tag engraved for their pet for $5.25. Attaching an ID tag to a pet’s collar is an additional safeguard that helps neighbors or Good Samaritans reunite lost pets with their owners. Ideally, a pet should wear a collar with identification and be microchipped.



Pet owners residing in Richmond City or the counties of Hanover, Henrico, Chesterfield or Goochland are eligible to attend the clinic. The City of Richmond and Hanover County will make pet licenses available during the clinic. Those who wish to purchase a license must furnish a copy of their pet’s current rabies vaccination certificate. Residents of the City of Richmond may license their pets for $10; licenses for pets of Hanover County residents are $6.

Official Website: http://www.richmondspca.org/Page.aspx?pid=183