Microchipping Your Pet Could Mean All the Difference!

Every month we have one or two people bring in a pet that they've found, wanting us to see if the pet has a microchip so that we can hopefully be on the way to getting that lost pet home.  Unfortunately, some of these pets have been injured and are also in need of medical attention.  The most heartbreaking cases are those that need immediate emergency care, which we give, but without proper ID we have no way of contacting an owner.  I think of my own pets and how distraught I would be if, say, my pet had been hit by a car & I had no idea it had happened, so I obviously couldn't be there to comfort my pet and decide what I felt was in his/her best interest.  

Statistics say that 1 in 3 pets will go missing during its lifetime!  That's an incredible number.  What's even more incredible is that 90% won't be reunited with their owner without proper ID.  Proper ID is ID that is permanent (therefore, not a collar) and provides contact information (most likely not a tattoo either).  The most ideal ID is a microchip.  Hard to believe that something so small (the chip is the size of a grain of rice) can be so valuable!  By simply having the chip implanted under the pet's skin, anyone with a scanner (veterinary hospitals, humane societies, animal control, etc) can 1) determine that the animal is indeed someone's pet & not a stray and 2) get contact information to get in touch with the owner.  The process is virtually painless & can be done very quickly.  In fact, more time is needed to fill out the paperwork associated with the chip than actually inserting it.  Please note that the chip is not a GPS device.  It will not allow your pet to be tracked but will hopefully allow more lost pets to be reunited with their owner.  

If your pet isn't microchipped, please contact your veterinarian & ask about having this done as soon as possible.  Although not all technology is necessarily good or needed, this is definitely a device we are very thankful for!!!  If you need more information about microchips, you can see the company websites that manufacture them.  At Best Friends we currently use the Home Again microchip, but there are others as well.       

Home Again

Help Those Pets Affected by Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy has left thousands of pets homeless & in need of shelter, food, and/or water.  If you're interested in helping these pets, consider donating to a reputable organization known for making a difference in pets' lives.  Two such organizations currently active in rescue efforts associated with Sandy are the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).  To make a donation, just click on either or both of the links here & know that your money is going to a wonderful cause to help these pets in need.

ASPCA Donation Link

HSUS Donation Link

Post-Adoption Exams Free with Coupon!

We're new to this blogging bit, but wanted to use as many avenues as possible to let clients know that we offer complimentary post-adoption exams for any newly adopted pet.  We have a coupon on our website that you can print off. Coupon Link.  Just make an appointment within 2 weeks of adoption (don't forget your paperwork) & we'll do a complimentary exam, answer any questions, and help you & your family get off to a great start with your new pet!  BTW - October was National Adopt-a-Pet Month, did you know???

Call us with any questions!!!