Toronto Animal Services takes pet microchipping on the road

News Release
September 20, 2012 


Toronto Animal Services takes pet microchipping on the road

Identifying pets is one of the most important ways a pet owner can ensure a pet is returned home if it ever strays from sight. Toronto Animal Services wants to ensure that as many pets as possible get identified.

To promote pet identification, Toronto Animal Services presents The Chip Truck - A mobile licence and microchip clinic for your pet.

Toronto residents can visit the Chip Truck to purchase a City of Toronto licence and a microchip for only $20 for cats and $30 for dogs. If a pet already has a City of Toronto license, it can be microchipped for only $5 (with proof of a current City of Toronto pet licence).

The Chip Truck will be at the following locations on these dates, and it's open for everyone:
 
Saturday, September 22: Trinity Bellwoods Park (Queen Street West and Strachan Avenue) at the Canadian Kennel Club's Responsible Dog Ownership event from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
 
Saturday, September 29: Allan Gardens Park (Carlton Street and Homewood Avenue) from 1 to 4 p.m.
 
Sunday, September 30: Jane/Finch Mall parking lot (Jane Street and Finch Avenue) from 1 to 4 p.m.

No appointment is necessary. All dogs must be on a leash and all cats must be properly contained in a carrier. Pet owners are asked to bring a piece of photo identification with address.

A microchip is an identifying integrated circuit placed under the skin of a dog or cat, usually on the back of the neck between the shoulder blades. The chip is about the size of a large grain of rice, and uses passive RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology.

Animal shelters, animal care and control officers and veterinarians routinely look for microchips to return lost pets quickly to their owners. Toronto Animal Services places chips in all animals adopted through its shelters.

Animals being microchipped at the Chip Truck will be microchipped by a Toronto Animal Services veterinarian. After checking that the animal does not already have a chip, the vet will inject the chip with a syringe and record the chip's unique identification. No anaesthetic is required, and a test scan will ensure the chip is operating correctly.

Toronto Animal Services will register all microchips with 24 Pet Watch. Pet owners are responsible for maintaining up to date contact information with 24 Pet Watch throughout the life of the pet, including owner contact information, pet name and description, veterinarian contact information, and an alternate emergency contact. 24 Pet Watch provides 24-hour, toll-free telephone and online service for the life of the pet.

The owner receives a registration certificate directly from 24 Pet Watch with the chip identification and recovery service contact information. The certificate serves as proof of ownership and is transferred with the animal if and when the animal goes to a new owner.

Authorities and shelters examine strays for chips, providing the recovery service with the identification number, description and location so they may notify the owner or contact. An owner can also report a missing pet to the recovery service, as vets look for chips in new animals and check with the recovery service to see if it has been reported lost or stolen.

Information is available at http://www.toronto.ca/animalservices.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.7 million people. Toronto's government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

- 30 -

Media contact: Bruce Hawkins, Senior Communications Coordinator, 416-392-3496, bhawkin@toronto.ca