HARLINGEN — The Humane Society of Harlingen will host a low-cost microchip clinic for community pets Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.
Microchips are usually $25, but the clinic is offering them for $10.
The Humane Society of Harlingen uses Michelson Found Animals microchips. According to a press release, the microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted below the skin between the pets’ shoulders.
However, the microchip is not a GPS device and does not work to track a pet’s location. It provides the most reliable and permanent form of identification available to pets.
“This is our second one of the year. This is our first one monthly, and we hope to continue like that,” said Sarah Cano, Community Outreach Coordinator.
Each microchip contains a unique number and the phone number of the registry for the particular brand of chip.
A handheld scanner reads the radio frequency of the chip and displays this information.
These scanners are usually available at pet stores, veterinarians’ offices, animal shelters and animal control centers.
The number is then searched through a microchip registry and will pull up the contact information provided at registration, so that whoever finds the pet is able to reunite it with their family.
“The importance of microchip clinics is because it provides accessible, affordable access to chips. Microchips are the only permanent form of identification for shelter pets,” Cano said.
“They do not expire, and we automatically register them. Some require payment or subscription but not for these chips,” she said.
The clinic will be pre-registration only; people can register at hshtx.org/monthly-clinic.
Cano said the clinic will be a drive-through clinic to maintain social distancing.
Registration will close Friday at midnight.
