April 27, 2015 - The City of Thunder Bay Animal Services Centre in partnership with Friends of the Animals and local veterinarians will be hosting a Chip-a-thon on Saturday, May 9, at the Animal Services Centre, 882 Alloy Place, from 10 am to 3 pm. Appointments must be booked by Monday, May 4.

The Chip-a-thon allows pet owners to have their pets microchipped by local veterinarians for only $35 for the first pet, and $30 for each additional pet.

"A microchip, the size of an uncooked grain of rice, could save a pet's life," said Jody Kondrat, Supervisor - City of Thunder Bay Animal Services. "Microchipping is a safe, foolproof way of permanently identifying a pet's owner and address."

Microchipping is the process of implanting a tiny microchip device just under the skin between the animal's shoulder blades by a simple injection. It contains a 10-digit ID code that can only be read when an electronic scanner is passed over the animal's back, similar to the devices that read bar codes in retail stores. It contains no battery, and remains inactive until scanned by a compatible device.

Pet owners are asked to contact the Animal Services Centre at 684-2156 to book their appointment by Monday, May 4. Dog microchipping appointments are available Saturday, May 9, from 10 am to 12 pm, and both cat and dog appointments are available in the afternoon from 1 pm to 3 pm.

Spayed or neutered pets equipped with a microchip can receive a lifetime license for only $15. If a pet qualifies for a life-time tag pet owners will be asked to show a veterinary certificate indicating proof of the spay or neuter when purchasing their tag. 2015 pet licenses will also be available on-site.

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Contact: Jody Kondrat, Supervisor - Animal Services, 684-3210