Celebrate National Microchipping Month This June

Responsible pet owners mark your calendars – June is National Microchipping Month! Read on to learn the facts about microchipping, from the quick return of lost pets to understanding how chipping helps local animal shelters. There are also some great ideas about how to celebrate responsible pet owners and provide an opportunity to microchip their pets in June!

Know the Facts

• If your pet gets lost exploring your neighborhood, your family is more likely to be reunited with it if it is chipped. Dogs are 2.5 times more apt to be returned to their home, and for cats, you are 20 times more likely to get them back! Microchipping is an essential part of being a responsible pet owner.

• Because chips are more permanent than an ID tag on your pet’s collar, they help lost pets get home quicker from the shelter. A microchip could save your pet’s life if your family friend takes regular medication. If you live in a county with strict euthanasia policies, the permanency of a chip can help prevent accidental euthanasia as well.

• Since microchips get family pets out of the shelter and into homes faster, they help free up much-needed resources for the animals that remain in the facility. By chipping your pet, you can help other animals have a safer and more comfortable environment while they wait for their forever home.

• If you rescue an animal from a shelter, it probably has already been microchipped because they understand the importance of chips. Some countries believe that microchipping is so important that it is required. This is not the case in the US, but if you travel with your pet, you should research if a microchip is required before you go.

• Microchips can provide peace of mind during stressful times. If someone steals your dog, it will be easier to prove ownership. If your cat is lost during a natural disaster, you will have a better chance of it getting returned to you.

• Manufacturers of certain pet supplies, such as doggie doors and food bowls, are beginning to equip them with the ability to read an animal’s microchip so that only one animal can use it! This way, you don’t need to worry about neighbor’s animals following your pet through the doggie door or that your dog will eat all your cat’s food.

Microchip Your Pet and Update Your Contact Information

Now that you know all the facts, if you haven’t already had your pet implanted, schedule an appointment with your vet. It won’t hurt your pet any more than getting a vaccine and there are so many benefits. The chip will last a lifetime, and all you need to do is be sure that you keep your contact information updated with the chip’s manufacturer. If you adopted your pet from a shelter, be sure that you submitted the correct paperwork to update the registry from the shelter’s contact information to your own.

Promote National Microchipping Month

Think about showing off how much you love your pet during June. Share a picture of your cat or dog and the reason you microchipped your family friend on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or another favorite social media platform. Use #NationalMicrochippingMonth or #MicrochippingMonth to promote your posts. Finally, search those hashtags to find other posts to share – who doesn’t like to see adorable pets in their social media feeds!

Volunteer at Your Local Shelter

You have already helped the shelter by microchipping your furry friend but think about the other animals that need a new home. Cats and dogs want human attention, and there are rarely enough volunteers to give them all the love they need. First, find out what the volunteer requirements are. You might need to go through a training or make a commitment to fill a regular time slot. Most shelters will work with your schedule – so reach out and ask what they need!

Donate and Host a Fundraiser

Your local animal shelter likely microchips the animals in its care as part of their regular vet visits. This is an excellent service to the community, but it is not cheap to chip so many animals. Donate to your local shelter to help defer some of these costs. You could also organize a fundraiser to increase awareness of the great work shelters do and raise money to support their efforts on a larger scale. Don’t forget to hit up your animal-loving friends for donations!

Organize a Microchipping Event

Consider working with your local veterinarians and animal shelters to raise awareness of the importance of microchipping by organizing an event where people can bring their family pets to get chipped. Reach out to local pet stores and find sponsors so the vets can install the microchips at a reduced rate, or maybe even for free. Don’t forget to invite the media to cover your efforts, so the community gains awareness around this critical aspect of being a responsible pet owner.

Whether you choose to promote National Microchipping month on social media, hold a fundraiser, or organize an event, be sure to enjoy yourself and spend some time appreciating your family pets. As a responsible pet owner who has microchipped your pet, the safety of your furry family members is secured. But don’t forget to save some energy for August 15th, “Check the Chip Day,” where you will want to remind the pet-owners in the community to schedule a vet appointment to make sure their chips are working and to update their contact details on the microchip database.