Pinal County Animal Care and Control is offering $5 microchipping for cats and dogs through May 31.

The shelter is offering the low-cost service in honor of Chip Your Pet Month, an awareness campaign to curtail the number of lost pets ending up in shelters. A microchip is the size of a grain of rice and contains an identification number when scanned at a veterinary clinic or animal shelter.

“Microchipping is the only way we can ensure getting the animal home,” said PCACC Director Audra Michael. “Accidents happen and not all animals wear their collars every day, so the microchip is the only way for us to figure out who the dog belongs to.”

According to American Veterinary Medical Association, microchipped dogs are more than twice as likely to be returned to owners. That statistic is significantly higher for microchipped cats, which are more than 20 times as likely to be returned home.

The service normally costs $20 per animal, and Michael hopes the 75% discount will entice pet owners to bring their animal in for a microchip.

“We just want to see these animals go home instead of staying in the shelter,” Michael said.

To schedule an appointment for microchipping at the Casa Grande shelter, call PCACC 520-509-3555 or email [email protected]. Walk-ins are also accepted.

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