[PET OHANA]

HAWAIIAN HUMANE SOCIETY PHOTO Gary Rogers and the other officers from the Hawaiian Humane Society carry micro- chip ID scanners in their trucks, allowing them to return lost pets quickly, often without a trip to the shelter.

Microchip IDs make the
best gifts for pets

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By Hawaiian Humane Society

Next week is "Be Kind to Animals Week," and the Hawaiian Humane Society has a promotion that will help people and their pets stay together.

Bring your pet to the Humane Society between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday for a $5 microchip ID. No appointment is necessary. A microchip ID is a wonderful, low-cost way to show love for your animal companion. This permanent form of identification is implanted in a few seconds, so if your cat or dog sneaks out or gets lost, a scan instantly reveals her identity to speed her return home.

Microchip IDs are available all year long from most veterinarians at prices varying from $17 to $40. During the "Be Kind" promotion and thanks to many participating veterinarians, microchip IDs are just $5 at the clinics listed here:
>> Aina Haina Pet Hospital, 373-2111
>> Animal Clinic Inc., 734-0255
>> Blue Cross Animal Hospital, 593-2532
>> The Cat Clinic, 732-8884
>> Companion Animal Hospital, 262-8141
>> East Honolulu Pet Hospital, 396-3333
>> Family Vet Clinic, 484-9070
>> Feather and Fur Clinic, 254-1548
>> Haiku Veterinary Clinic Inc., 235-6405
>> Hawaii Kai Veterinary Clinic, 395-2302
>> Island Veterinary Care, 944-0003
>> Kalihi Pet Clinic Inc., 841-6313
>> Kokua Pet Clinic, 843-8382
>> Makai Animal Clinic, 262-9621
>> Newtown Vet Clinic, 488-3667
>> The Pet Doctor, 733-8828
>> Wahiawa Animal Hospital, 621-7000

As many people know from experience, animals have an uncanny ability to leap, slither and climb out of enclosed spaces -- and their collars. Many an anxious owner has spent hours searching for missing pets. Fortunately, microchip identification technology is beginning to reduce hours spent on those searches.

In fiscal 2001 almost 2,400 pets were reunited with their owners, many because of microchips. That amounts to more than six pets every day. Many pets are returned in just a few minutes because humane officers can scan, identify and return animals without a trip to the shelter.

Here's how it works. A microchip ID, about the size of a rice grain and encased in glass, is injected under the fleshy skin between the animal's shoulder blades. Each chip has a unique combination of letters and numbers that can be read with a hand-held scanning device.

When a microchipped animal is found, it can be scanned by a humane officer or veterinarian and the code checked against the database of pet owner names, addresses and phone numbers kept at the Hawaiian Humane Society. There is no charge to list your information in the database. To date, more than 78,000 pets have been microchipped on Oahu.

Have you moved?

If you already have microchip IDs for your pets, make sure the identification is correct in the Oahu database. If you have moved or changed phone numbers since the chip was implanted, call the Humane Society at 946-2187, Ext. 0, during business hours to update your information.

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"Pet Ohana" runs the first and third Fridays of the month. The Hawaiian Humane Society is a nonprofit agency dedicated to preventing cruelty to animals. They are at 2700 Waialae Ave. Call 946-2187.

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