Problem

Although many pet parents believe it could never happen to them, countless companion animals escape and become lost every year. Unfortunately, the odds are heavily stacked against a reunion between the lost animal and his or her human family—and these odds are even worse for animals who do not have proper identification.

The Gift

To help increase the chances that a lost animal will be recovered, the ASPCA relies on microchip identification. An electronic chip, about the size of a grain of rice and carrying a unique code, is implanted between a pet’s shoulder blades. The code is entered into a database that links up the animal’s family’s address and contact information. Similar to a routine vaccination, this procedure is quick and painless. If a lost animal is brought to a shelter or vet’s office, the facility will use a scanner to check the dog or cat for a microchip. Your gift will allow us to microchip two adoptable animals in our shelter, affording peace of mind for the new pet parents and helping to ensure a speedy return in the event that the animals inadvertently become lost.