In an effort to streamline the process for reuniting lost pets with their owners, Athens-Clarke County has unveiled three new microchip scanning stations within the community. According to ACCGov, these stations allow anyone who comes across a stray animal to check for a microchip on-the-spot, providing a quick solution outside of traditional business hours.
Microchips, which are roughly the size of a grain of rice and implanted under a pet's skin, carry a unique ID number. This number, when scanned, links back to a national database that contains the pet owner's contact information. Despite their miniature size, they serve as a crucial tool, finding the lost pet's home starting the reunification process if scanned at one of the new stations, noted by Kristall Barber, the Animal Services Director, as reported by ACCGov.
The locations of these new stations are at Athens-Clarke County Animal Services, Memorial Park's dog park, and Southeast Clarke Park's Wiggley Field dog park. While the station at Animal Services is available 24/7, those at the parks have restricted access, open during the parks' operating hours. Each station provides instructions at each station for ease of use.
This initiative doesn't just offer convenience—it also has the potential to reduce Resource use and increase efficiency at the Animal Services shelters. Animals with a microchip that are found can avoid intake at the shelter by being returned directly to their owners, as stated by ACCGov. It is something that benefits everyone involved, freeing the staff to focus on animals needing more care and attention, while also ensuring that fewer pets have to endure the stress of a shelter stay.
Additionally, to encourage pet owners to microchip their companions, Athens-Clarke County Animal Services offers microchipping services to the public, including checks for existing microchips, implantation, registration, and updates to contact information. Every Sunday during October, such services are available from noon until 3:00 PM at their location on Buddy Christian Way. More information on the microchipping services provided can be found at the Animal Services Department's official website.
