BY KARI KUH

DBCHS

The Danville-Boyle County Humane Society is hosting a microchip clinic on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the humane society located at 778 N. Danville Bypass.

Why? Tags alone can get lost or be removed, and microchipping is an easy way to permanently ID your pet.

“The first thing we do with a found pet is scan for a microchip,” said Kari Kuh, DBCHS executive director. “Along with our partners at Boyle County Animal Control, DBCHS has a return to home rate of over 30%, which is higher than the national average. We can reunite even more pets with their people by expanding access to microchipping.”

At the clinic, community members can get their pets chipped for a $20 donation to DBCHS. The donation includes the microchip, insertion and enrollment in AKC Reunite recovery service. Proof of rabies vaccination is required, and space is limited. Email Kari Kuh karikuh@dbchs.org to reserve a spot now.

YOUR PET WILL BE CHIPPED – At the microchip clinic, Dr. Stephanie Raispis from Wilderness Trace Veterinary Clinic will microchip your pet. The tiny rice-sized ID is encoded with a unique number and implanted just under the skin in the scruff of the neck. The process is simple and only takes a few seconds. The chip can later be detected and read by a scanner used by shelters, veterinarians and other agencies. Please note that proof of rabies vaccination is required.

YOUR PET WILL BE ENROLLED – At the microchip clinic, you will be provided with an AKC Reunite enrollment form when the chip is implanted. You will immediately fill out the form to enroll your pet in AKC Reunite’s 24-hour recovery service. This will ensure that you can be contacted when your pet is reported found. In addition, it is vital that you keep the information that is saved in the database current. If you should later move or

get a new telephone number, please notify AKC Reunite immediately at 1-800-252-7894.

USE THE COLLAR TAG – Your pet will receive an acrylic yellow collar tag two weeks after the event, along with the dog’s confirmation letter. The tag will also link your pet to AKC Reunite. This unique ID tag will supplement the microchip and can speed up the recovery process. When your pet is found, animal control, veterinarians, and rescue groups will first look for visible ID and call the toll-free number on the tag. If there is no tag, they will scan your pet for a microchip and alert AKC Reunite, who will then contact the owner.

Millions of pets are enrolled in AKC Reunite, which is the largest non-profit recovery database of microchipped pets in the United States. The program maintains a secure database, and trained staff provides recovery services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. To date, hundreds of thousands of pets nationwide have been recovered and reunited with their owners through AKC Reunite.

About DBCHS: The Danville-Boyle County Humane Society is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) established in 1972 that promotes the humane treatment of animals through compassionate care, engagement, and support. To donate, please visit DBCHS.org/give or mail a check to DBCHS P.O. Box 487, Danville, KY 40423-0487. We’re grateful for our generous community.