Each year more than 10,000 pets are recovered by Animal Control Officers for running at large in communities. These animals are taken into the Animal Control Facility where they are fed and cared for until an owner presents himself/herself, they are eventually adopted out to new owners or sent to a rescue. One way to reunite pets with their owners in a more timely fashion, and with minimal expense to the county and its citizens, is to microchip animals that come into the Section's possession. Micro chipping serves many purposes: - It provides an opportunity to reunite pets and owners quickly. Animal Control Officers will be provided with "wands" with which to scan for microchips. If a microchip is located, the wand will provide owner and address information. Officers could then return the animal to the owner rather than transporting the animal to the facility.
- In addition to quickly reuniting animals and owners, the ability to identify animals by microchip will also assist the section by saving space, food, time, and effort that are often expended on animals being held in the facility.
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- Recent weather related incidents have demonstrated that animals can be quickly separated from their homes and owners and, often times, at a separation of great distances. Microchipping has helped in some of those scenarios, such as during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, by identifying animals and their owners quickly and reuniting them safely with minimal cost, time and effort.
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Procedure The microchipping program shall apply to the following: Adoptions: Beginning July 1, 2006 citizens who adopt their pet from the Animal Control Section shall have the option of having their pet microchipped for an additional charge of $20.00. Redemptions for running at large: Effective immediately, in order to promote the public interest by encouraging microchipping of animals with a propensity to run at large, pet owners who redeem their animals for running at large may choose to have their pet microchipped for an additional charge of $40.00. |
