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500 FREE Microchips Available: Should Your Pet Become Lost, This Could Be The Difference

June 30, 2022

July is National Lost Pet Prevention Month, and the Humane Society of Broward County will be offering 500 FREE microchips for pet owners. The chips are available in the shelter’s vaccine clinic at 2070 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale. The clinic is open Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. no appointment necessary (it is closed daily from 11:40 – 1:00 p.m.)

Thanks to technology, a microchip is the size of a grain of rice and administered under the skin between a pet’s shoulder blades. When a chip is properly registered it contains the owner’s contact information. Should your pet become lost and taken to a vet’s office or shelter, a scanner is used to see if the animal has a chip and then the owner can be contacted. It is important to understand that a microchip is not a tracking device. It is also imperative that if you move or change your phone number, that you update the contact information with the microchip company.

Microchipped pets are reunited with their owners frequently. In April 2019, a 2.5 year old German Shepherd named Cedar was reunited with her Southwest Ranches family after being stolen from her home at the age of four months. Found injured in a ditch by law enforcement in Colorado, Cedar was taken to a vet office where a registered chip was located by the scanner. She was flown home after she recovered.

Should your pet become lost, a microchip could mean the difference between being reunited quickly or waiting for days, weeks or months in a shelter, rescue or someone’s home hoping you will find your lost pet. According to the AVMA – American Veterinary Medical Association’s website, “A study of more than 7,700 stray animals at animal shelters showed that dogs without microchips were returned to their owners 21.9% of the time, whereas microchipped dogs were returned to their owners 52.2% of the time. Cats without microchips were reunited with their owners only 1.8% of the time, whereas microchipped cats went back home 38.5% of the time. (Lord et al, JAVMA, July 15, 2009)” For microchipped animals that weren't returned to their owners, most of the time it was due to incorrect owner information (or no owner information) in the microchip registry database – so don't forget to register and keep your information updated.

Microchipping is crucial to your pet’s well-being. In addition, a collar and ID tag are a visible sign of identification and should be kept on your pet at all times. That way, if your dog or cat wanders from home and is found, you can be reunited quickly.

The Humane Society of Broward County is a private, non-profit organization that is not affiliated with any national or local group with a similar name. The shelter’s programs and services are made possible by the generosity of those that want to make a difference for animals and people. To learn more, view pets waiting to meet you, or to make a donation visit www.humanebroward.com or call 954-989-3977 ext. 6.

Calling all BIG Dog Lovers
Linda wants to go home with you. At 113 pounds, Linda is the largest dog at the Humane Society of Broward County and might be part Saint Bernard. Her previous owner moved and could not take her along and Linda is definitely missing them. She is anxious when she goes outside as if she is looking for her former family. Linda will need a patient new family who will give her time to adjust and settle in. This five-year-old beauty is described as a big gentle giant, who needs durable toys and a proper walking harness. She doesn’t know her own strength and does pull a bit when she goes for walks. Linda loves the coolness of a cold tile floor and will do best in a home with older kids. Do you have room in your heart and home for her?

Little Cinderella (ID 656478) is just 12 weeks old and looking for a family to make her fairytale ending complete. This sweet little one is just one of more than three dozen kittens available for adoption at the shelter. This time of years adoption centers all over the country are inundated with kittens, so if you’ve thought about adopting now is the perfect opportunity.

To meet a pet at the Humane Society of Broward County please fill out a pre-adoption application at www.humanebroward.com (unless you have in the past) and stop by. The shelter is located at 2070 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale and opens daily at 11 AM. If you have any questions call 954-989-3977 ext. 6. All pets are spayed or neutered before going home, receive a microchip and preliminary vaccinations, a bag of Purina ONE pet food, 14 days of limited health care from VCA Animal Hospitals, cats are tested for feline leukemia and dogs 7 months and older are tested for heartworm.

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