Cheap as (micro) chips

Saturday 06 April 2019

Islanders are invited to bring their pets to be microchipped for a minimum donation of £10 this month as part of the JSPCA's microchip fundraising campaign.

Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and ferrets can all be microchipped, meaning that it will be easier for them to be reunited with their owner should they wander away from home.

Last year, the Animal Shelter dealt with over 150 unclaimed stray animals. These animals were cared for by the JSPCA, health checked by one of their Veterinary Surgeons, microchipped and eventually re-homed.

Pictured: This month, pet owners can get their animal microchipped for a minimum donation of £10.

A microchip is a small, electronic chip enclosed in a glass cylinder, roughly the size of a grain of rice. It is injected under the skin, between the shoulder blades for most animals. It is no more painful than a typical injection, although the needle is slightly larger than those normally used for injections.

While the chip can't help trace a lost animal, the microchip can be activated by a scanner to find out the details of the owner. If a stray animal is found, they can be scanned for a microchip to help locate their owner, if they have one.

This month, the JSPCA is offering microchipping to pet owners for a minimum donation of £10. All proceeds will go towards the care of the animals at the Animal Shelter, including unclaimed strays they take in and get ready for rehoming.