Microchip clinic for pets this weekend

The furry, four-legged members of many Flathead families become more than just pets, and their impact is rarely felt more than when they go missing.

In the last 12 months, the Flathead County Animal Shelter has taken in over 1,100 dogs and around 470 cats, according to shelter director Cliff Bennett.

Much of that intake consisted of lost pets, but not all of those pets managed to find their way back home after being picked up by animal control or turned over as strays.

Kalispell Animal Control warden Niki Sevesind said she picks up hundreds of animals each year.

In both her current job as an animal warden and her previous work at both the local shelter and humane society, she learned that when it comes to lost pets, the best way to ensure their safe return is through microchipping.

Microchipping an animal, according to Sevesind, is an almost painless procedure that takes only seconds to complete.

A syringe is used to insert a microchip the size of a grain of rice under the skin between an animal’s shoulder blades or at the base of the neck.

That chip has a number in it that, when registered and scanned, can help identify the owner, their address and their contact information.

According to Sevesind, all veterinarians, shelters and animal control officers have scanners and use them frequently to identify and return lost pets.

The chips last for the life of the pet, but cannot be used as GPS trackers, Sevesind said.

For pets, especially cats that don’t wear collars and tags well, the chip offers a practical, permanent alternative.

The problem, Sevesind said, is that once the chip is implanted, many owners either fail to register the chip with the company or forget to update the information associated with it, including addresses and phone numbers, if the information changes.

“What drives us crazy with the microchips is people change their phone numbers, and don’t call the microchip company,” said Bennett. “Then we have this beautiful dog in here and can’t figure out where it belongs.”

Bennett recalled a time years ago when his own dog escaped from his yard and went missing.

The dog, he said, had never gotten out before when he climbed the fence and took off, leaving his embroidered collar and tags behind.

Lost without identification, the dog ran loose in the Lakeside area until he was picked up and taken to a local veterinarian. The vet scanned the dog and was immediately able to identify Bennett as his owner, and the mutt returned home safe.

When animals come in, Bennett said the shelter staff immediately scans them for a chip. If the scanner beeps, they look to see if the owner has registered and updated the information on the chip.

Another safety factor pet owners should consider, according to Sevesind, is vaccination against diseases like rabies, parvo and distemper.

An unvaccinated dog or cat has a significantly increased risk of contracting these diseases and even more so if they get loose and are exposed to other animals.

For pet owners wanting to care for their animals but perhaps struggling with the cost of vaccines and microchips, the Flathead Spay and Neuter Task Force will be providing a low-cost clinic that might help.

This Saturday, the Task Force in partnership with Don K Subaru will host a vaccine/microchip clinic in celebration of World Rabies Day and invites the public to take advantage of the reduced cost.

Dogs and cats eight weeks and older can stop by for vaccines/microchip at $15 each.

Rabies vaccines will be available for healthy animals 12 weeks and older.

Cat three-way and dog five-way vaccinations will be available for healthy dogs and cats eight weeks and older.

Cats must be in carriers and dogs on leashes.

The clinic will take place on Oct. 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Don K Subaru in Whitefish.

For more information, contact the Spay and Neuter Clinic at 892-7387.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.