Microchips are Valentines for Pets

Chocolate or flowers, diamonds or dinner? Valentine’s Day gifts can be tricky. But when it comes to pets, the County Department of Animal Services knows exactly how you can show your love: a microchip.

“Valentine’s Day is a time to do something special for someone you love, including your favorite animals,” said Dawn Danielson, Director of . “If you want to make sure you and pet can find each other again if you’re ever separated, a microchip is the perfect Valentine.”

Every Thursday this month, the Carlsbad shelter on Palomar Airport Road will offer microchipping clinics from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. as well as dog licensing, rabies vaccinations and spay/neuter coupons.

At the clinics, pets can get a microchip for a one-time fee of $20, which includes the chip’s registration. Completely safe and the size of a grain of rice, microchips are injected under the animal’s skin and will be scanned at a shelter to check for ownership if the pet is ever lost.  

 At each clinic, owners can also pick up coupons good for $50 towards spaying and $25 towards neutering dogs and cats at their veterinarian.

Rabies vaccinations for dogs (4 months or older) and cats (3 months or older) are $6. Amnesty from late fees is offered to owners who have failed to license their dog or have allowed their dog’s annual license to lapse.

Microchipping and rabies vaccinations are available to everyone. Licensing and spay or neuter coupons are available for residents of the unincorporated county or the County’s contract cities: San Diego, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, and Santee. 

For the protection of owners and their pets, dogs must be on a leash and cats in a carrier while at any of the clinics. For more information, contact the County Department of Animal Services at 619-767-2675 or visit www.sddac.com. 

-County Animal Services contributed to this report.