To help pet owners avoid the nightmare of searching for their missing pets, the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control Authority (MCACC) is holding a “Stars and Stripes and Microchips” event through Friday, June 30.
With Independence Day just around the corner, it’s one of the busiest times of the year for animal shelters, according to MCACC spokeswoman Kim Powell.
Between 4th of July fireworks and summer storms blowing gates, the risk of losing a dog this time of year increases. June is National Microchip Month. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of ensuring dogs are provided with correct and up-to-date information so that they can return home faster if they are lost.
Microchips are available at both Maricopa County shelters Monday through Friday from 10:30 am to 11:30 am through June 30 for $4.
“Most stray dogs that come into shelters do not have microchips or other forms of identification and are difficult to return to their owners, so they stay in shelters and are part of our capacity problem. It’s a factor,” Powell said. “Microchips are a great way to identify a dog if their collar or tag comes loose and falls off.”
With a microchip, if your dog gets lost and is found by the Maricopa County Animal Control Officer, they can send it home for free.
To help local dogs get proper identification, microchips will be available for $4 while supplies last. Microchips will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis between 10:30 and 11:30 am Monday through Friday through June 30. $4 microchips are not available on weekends.
The Stars and Stripes and Microchip event will be held at both shelters at 2500 S. 27th Ave. in Phoenix and 2630 W. Rio Salado Parkway in Mesa.
“We want to keep our pets safe and hopefully see many Maricopa County dog owners at our Stars and Stripes microchip event,” Powell said.
For more information on the event, please visit: maricopa.gov/5268/Animal Care and Management.
