San Diego Humane Society offers free microchips during October

SAN DIEGO – Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and other holidays are close on the horizon. While these are times of celebration for humans, pets can experience stress and run away from home when loud noises cause them to flee and doors are frequently opening to let guests in.

To protect furry family members and help them return home if they become lost, San Diego Humane Society is offering free microchips and registration all October through their "Chip n' Treat" campaign at shelter vaccine clinics.

"Chip n' Treat" free microchipping clinics will take place through Tuesday, Oct. 31, in Escondido, Oceanside and San Diego from Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m.to noon and 1-5 p.m. Schedule an appointment at http://www.sdhumane.org/microchip.

Appointments are recommended, and a $15 walk-in fee will be applied without an appointment.

A microchip, which is about the size of a grain of rice, at 12mm, is injected beneath the surface of the pet's skin between the shoulder blades to provide a permanent form of identification. The process is similar to a routine shot, taking only a few seconds and no anesthetic is required.

Statistics show one out of every three pets will become lost during their lifetime, and only one in 10 will be reclaimed by their owners. In addition to having your pets wear a collar with a tag displaying your contact information, a microchip provides permanent, secure protection. If the pet is found, they can be taken to a veterinarian or shelter – and sometimes even a local fire station or library – where they can be easily scanned and you will be contacted.

Submitted by San Diego Humane Society.