Considered to be an integral part of family life, most pets also benefit from regular medical checkups providing them with the best care possible.
Angel Ridge Animal Rescue in Washington County will sponsor a Rabies and Microchip Clinic for dogs and cats Saturday, April 19. Nail clipping is also an added option. The clinic will be held indoors 1 to 4 p.m. in the Community House on Maple Springs Drive in South Park.
Refreshments, Chinese auction, raffles and a number of the shelter's adoptable dogs will be at the clinic site all afternoon. Hoping for a loving home, these family-friendly dogs have been neutered or spayed.
Licensed veterinarian Dr. Kellie Jones will be on hand and Pittsburgh's Vet Tech Institute will join forces with students to help perform clinic services.
The source of rabies in humans and domestic animals is the bite from a rabid animal. Rabies is a virus primarily attacking the nervous system. Vaccination is the best way to prevent infection.
Pennsylvania state law requires all pets to be vaccinated for rabies. Pets must be at least 6 months old for the initial inoculation which is good for one year. Three-year vaccines are then available.
AVID, the chip supplier for the Angel Ridge clinic, happily reports more than 142,000 lost pets have been reunited with their families due to AVID FriendChip microchipping and owner registration.
Natural disasters such as floods and windstorms quite often separate animals from owners. And there's always the chance that an indoor-only pet can escape the safety of its home. With a little advanced planning, the quick insertion of a microchip can shorten the trauma experienced by pet and family.
"When I pick up a dog or cat, I immediately scan for a chip," said Kym Secreet, animal control officer. "It's a nice feeling to be able to retrieve owner information and return the pet quickly.
"About 70 percent of the animals I handle have lost their collars and ID tags. The chip gives us just about a 100 percent chance of finding the owner."
In recent years, pet identification has become increasingly popular.
Veterinary clinics, shelters, rescue leagues and others likely to come in contact with lost, stray or injured animals have access to microchip scanners.
Statistics report more than 10 million pets lost every year. A collar ID tag along with a registered microchip gives a pet the best chance of a safe return home.
The combination ID is the animal's lifetime insurance.