In a bid to pair pets with loving homes, Pinal County Animal Care & Control has teamed up with the BISSELL Pet Foundation to roll out an adoption event that promises to be a win-win for both animals and humans. The "Empty the Shelters" initiative, a quarterly event where the BISSELL Pet Foundation foots the bill for adoption fees, is currently underway until May 15th, as reported in the Pinal County Pupdate. Eager adopters will have the chance to skip fees and find their new companions, thanks to the foundation's dedication to finding these pets their forever homes.
The BISSELL Pet Foundation, helmed by the company's Director of Corporate Affairs Cathy Bissell, an animal enthusiast through and through, offers a lifeline to numerous animal welfare organizations nationwide and spearheads this event with the simple yet profound goal of drastically reducing the number of animals without a place to call home. It's a gesture that taps into the essence of National Pet Month, celebrating the profound bond between humans and their animal friends, and acknowledges the reality of the tens of thousands pets that go missing every year—a detail vividly brought to light in the Pupdate.
While such events address the start of a pet's journey in its new home, the Pupdate stresses the long-term safety of these beloved creatures. To this end, it champions a steadfast solution: microchipping. A microchip serves as a permanent ID, far surpassing the traditional but fallible method of collars and tags. When a microchipped pet is wayward, the slim odds of its return are bolstered significantly; microchipped dogs see a return rate of over 52%, and cats, 38%, compared to a dismal 22% and 2%, respectively, for those without chips, as highlighted in the Pinal County Pupdate.
Furthermore, the process of microchipping is straightforward and pain-free; it involves a quick insertion of the chip under the pet’s skin, employing a needle but no anesthesia is required, and the Pupdate assures readers that many shelters and clinics will automatically register the microchip upon implantation—a step that can make all the difference in reuniting lost pets with their owners. For those who might be unsure about their pet's microchip status, the Pupdate urges pet owners to contact their vets or use a universal lookup tool to update contact information or verify the presence of a chip. By being proactive about microchipping, pet owners significantly increase the likelihood that they’ll see their furry friends again if they should ever wander off.
In embracing the spirit of National Pet Month, Pinal County Animal Care & Control's participation in Empty the Shelters and their advocacy for microchipping intertwines two crucial elements of pet care—beginning with a welcoming home, and ensuring its permanence through responsible identification. The Pupdate encourages pet owners to seize the moment and secure a safe future for their pets by considering microchipping as a standard practice for the lifelong journey with their four-legged family members. Information on pet care and the many benefits of microchipping can be found in additional resources provided in the full Pupdate.
