QC gov't offers free microchipping for pets

Owners no longer have to worry about their pets getting lost as the Quezon City government began offering free microchips for their furbabies.

According to Saleema Refran’s Tuesday report on “24 Oras”, the small device — which contains a serial number — will be implanted under a pet’s skin, giving them their own identity. This makes locating and identifying them easier for  owners.

“The microchip is a very small device. Kasing laki lang ng butil ng bigas na binabaon natin sa ilalim ng balat. Now, this has a serial number na pag-iniscan natin 'yun na 'yung identity ng alaga natin. Pag nakakagala yan, mahahanap natin sila. Maibabalik natin sa may-ari,” said Dr. Rey Napoles of the Quezon City Animal Care and Disease Control Division.

(The microchip is a very small device, nearly the size of a grain of rice. This will be implanted under their skin. Now, this has a serial number that, if scanned, you will know if it is your pet. So if they get lost, we can easily track them.)

Napoles added that the microchips are also being sold in private veterinary clinics with prices ranging from P750 to P1,500 depending on the type of device they use.

“The most practical application is pag ninakaw yung alaga natin o inangkin ng ibang tao. If you think if it is your pet and you know na naka-microchip yan pwede nating hamunin natin na i-iscan and you’ll have  proof,” he added.

(The most practical application is when your pet is stolen. If you think it is your pet and you know it has a microchip, you can scan it and you’ll have proof.)

Lost animals with the device may also be turned over to the Quezon City veterinary office or any veterinary clinics in the area. But if captured by the city pound, officials will just inform the owners of their pet's whereabouts.

Other free animal services offered in Quezon City are free rabies vaccine shots, and spaying and neutering.

Such services are also available for free in Makati City and Valenzuela City. — Sundy Mae Locus/DVM, GMA News