
In anticipation of the July Fourth festivities, the San Diego Humane Society is offering pet owners an opportunity to ensure their animal friends can be easily identified and returned if they should stray. According to the San Diego Humane Society, the organization is providing FREE microchips at all of their campus vaccine clinics through July 3. Microchipping is a permanent form of pet identification that significantly increases the chances of a lost pet being reunited with its family.
Understanding that the holiday can often result in an increased number of lost pets, the San Diego Humane Society is also waiving the fee to reclaim lost pets through July 7, as stated by the San Diego Humane Society. Pet parents are encouraged to view the stray animals admitted to their shelters there, with additional resources available designed to expedite the process of finding lost pets. Appointments for the microchipping service are recommended due to high demand, and they fill up quickly. New slots are made available every Tuesday for the following week, excluding major holidays, after 12 noon for those who are scheduling vaccination services as well.
For the convenience of pet owners, the microchipping and vaccination services are available by appointment at several locations throughout the county. Appointments last for 15 minutes per pet, and while walk-ins may be accepted during clinic hours for an extra $15 fee, these cannot be taken past 4 p.m. It's important to note, those requesting a 3-year Rabies vaccine during their visit are required to offer proof of their pet's previous Rabies vaccination.
In preparation for their appointment, pet owners should bring their dogs and cats on a leash and in a cat carrier respectively, as per instructions from the San Diego Humane Society. Although the clinics currently accept only credit and debit card payments, collars and ID tags are still recommended for pets. However, in the case that an animal cannot be safely handled at the time of vaccination, the staff may advise seeking services from a veterinarian.
Hours for the various campus clinics differ, and information regarding each can be found on the Humane Society’s website. The El Cajon Campus, for instance, operates from Tuesday to Friday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., with a lunch break at noon. Meanwhile, the Escondido Campus opens Thursday through Saturday during similar hours, and the Oceanside and San Diego Campuses extend their services from Tuesday to Sunday. Notably, the Oceanside Clinic will have adjusted hours on Friday, June 28, being closed from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.