Pet Microchips
Microchips help reunite thousands of pets with their families in the Virginia Beach and hurricane-stricken areas each year. You may think that your pet is protected from getting lost, but accidents do happen. In fact, one in three pets will become lost during their lifetime. And according to the American Humane Association, only about 17% of lost dogs and 2% of lost cats ever find their way back to their original owners. Almost 4 million pets are euthanized every year because their owners can’t be found in time.
Microchipping is quick and can be done during your regular wellness exam. It involves implanting a small chip, the size of a grain of rice, underneath the skin between the shoulder blades. The process is similar to a routine shot, takes only a few seconds, and your pet will not react any more than he or she would to a vaccination. No anesthetic is required. Every animal shelter in the Hampton Roads area has a scanner so that found pets can be identified and returned to their owners quickly and safely.
What are the benefits of registering your microchip?
- Proactive pet recovery helps you look for your pet. HomeAgain sends out lost pet alerts to veterinarians, shelters, and pet rescuers surrounding the area in which your pet was lost. HomeAgain also allows you to easily create a “Lost Pet” poster that you can print and post in the neighborhood.
- 24/7 emergency medical assistance through the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center hotline (a $55 value, free to HomeAgain members)
- Complimentary lost pet medical insurance covers your lost pet for up to $3,000 of emergency medical treatment (less a $50 deductible) for injuries your pet suffers while lost, upon proof of a lost pet incident. Once enrolled in HomeAgain, call to activate your pet’s insurance coverage.
- Pet ID cards with the pet’s name, microchip number, photo, vet information, and emergency clinic contact information to carry in your wallet with HomeAgain’s most inclusive package.
