Microchip your dogs this Saturday

---

The first 10 dogs are free

Brentford May Fayre at St Paul's Recreation Ground, 12noon-4pm, FREE ENTRY

Hounslow Council are offering a dog micro-chipping clinic at this Saturday's May Fayre.

Each year, more than 10 million pets are lost, and, according to the American Humane Association, only about 17% of lost dogs and 2% of lost cats ever find their owners. Nearly 20 million pets are euthanized each year because their owners cannot be located. If your pet is microchipped, there is a much greater chance that they will return to you safely. Microchips will last for your pet’s lifetime as there are no moving parts and nothing to replace.

A microchip is a small computer chip that has an identification number programmed into it. It is small enough to fit into a hypodermic needle. Once implanted, the I.D. number cannot be altered or removed, and a layer of connective tissue forms around the chip preventing it from moving about.

Some people are hesitant to microchip their pet because they are afraid it will hurt. The procedure is simple, routine, and painless, and it doesn't require any anesthesia. Your pet simply gets an injection just under the loose skin between the shoulder blades; it's a lot like getting vaccinated. Most animals don't react at all. Long term studies have shown that the microchip is very safe for your pets.

The chip contains an identification code that is unique to your pet. Most veterinarians and animal shelters have scanners that can read that identification code from all brands of microchip.

Animal Control will micro-chip the first 10 dogs free of charge; for the rest a fee of £10 applies. They will also check dogs that have already been chipped for anyone that wants to and provide details on how owners can update any changes to their dogs details since they were chipped (change of address or phone numbers etc). They will also be able to advise on other doggy issues on the day.

Please bring in your dogs on lead only and only use the entrance by St Paul's School as the other half of the park will have donkeys on it.

Full details of the fair are to be found here.

St Paul's Recreation Ground is to be found behind Somerfields, between Albany Road and Lateward Road

May 13, 2009