Animal ID chipping offered in Grants today

By Helen Davis
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Pet owners can get their dogs and cats outfitted with an invisible identification chip today.

Animal Advocates in Motion, the Human Society of Cibola County, is sponsoring a chipping clinic today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the society’s Grants location, 411 W. Santa Fe Ave. The cost is $25 per animal.

Director Denise Marinelli said if people had a chance to preregister for the clinic they will be served first, but drop-ins are welcome. Registration is booked until nearly noon, so drop-ins should plan on being there later in the morning or catching the veterinarian in the afternoon. She said people are welcome to come in the morning on the chance a registered participant cancels and leaves an opening.

Marinelli recommends pet owners call the office if they expect to use the afternoon session because if the clinic gets too slow, AAIM might release the vet early.

“Chipping” is a relatively recent innovation to help pet owner find lost animals and to alert shelters and vets of health problems a found animal may have. The process is simply having a licensed veterinarian use a needle to inject a tiny computer-readable chip into the skin between the shoulder blades of an animal. Marinelli said the process is apparently painless, “I’ve never seen a dog or cat flinch,” she noted.

Owners can chose the information they want to record, such as the animal’s name, vet, special health problems, phone numbers, and so forth. Anyone with a scanner specially designed for chip-reading can retrieve the information by passing the scanner over an animal’s shoulder area. AAIM said agencies in Laguna, Acoma, and Pine Hill have scanners. In Grants, the AAIM office and Grants Animal Shelter each have one.

Individuals interested in working for animal welfare can apply with the city of Grants for the open position on the Animal Control Board or volunteer with AAIM. AAIM can use all kinds of skills and all levels of time commitments; they are also looking for one veterinarian and one accountant.

Information: 287-9422.