Mission to host free microchip clinic
Mission residents will have another opportunity to register and microchip their pets for free in September.
The City of Mission and the Rio Grande Valley Humane Society are partnering to host a microchip clinic at the Mission animal shelter at 227 Abelino Farias St. The Humane Society has not finalized the date yet, but Health Department Director Steven Kotsatos said the clinic will be on Sept. 21 or Sept. 28. Once RGVHS finalizes the date, Mission residents can register their pets on the Humane Society’s website in about a week in advance at rgvhs.org.
A microchip is a permanent form of identification for an animal, making it easier to locate the owner and return the pet if the animal is lost or stolen.
“The microchips are about the size of a grain of rice and they’re injected very gently into the back of the neck of the animal,” Kotsatos explained. “There’s a larger needle used for larger animals and a smaller needle used for smaller animals like cats. And we microchip them on site, we register them on site so the residents can leave with a fully registered pet.”
Kotsatos said there will be limited availability for the upcoming clinic, estimating no more than 300 chips to avoid overbooking. He encourages pet owners to pre-register, but the Humane Society will take walk-ins the day of the clinic based on availability. Pre-registered pets can get their chip from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Walk-in hours are 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
There have been several local success stories of pets being returned to their owners because of microchips, according to the health department director. Interim Executive Director Jennifer Vasquez also reported an 89.5% save rate for July at RGVHS in Mission, including 28 reclaimed animals.
“Our main goal is to rehome these animals rather than take them to the shelter,” Kotsatos said. “So this [clinic] is an opportunity to have a permanent form of identification for the animals.”
The September clinic is Mission’s second free microchip clinic this year, made possible with a $30,000 grant from Petco Love. Kotsatos said the first clinic in February was successful, with about 200 pets chipped and registered.
In addition to the chip clinics, the humane society also hosts low-cost vaccine clinics throughout the year. For the July clinic, RGVHS reported 275 vaccinations in Mission.
“It’s a lot of work to take care of an animal. It’s expensive when you’re talking about vaccines and spay and neuter surgery, which is probably the most expensive aspect, and microchipping,” the health department director said. “I know in years past, the city would do a voucher system for spay and neuter clinics with the grants. But this year we did different programs and we wanted to focus on the microchips.”
Late last year, the City of Harlingen terminated its longstanding contract with the RGV Humane Society, citing a lack of financial accountability. However, Kotsatos reported all is well in Mission between the two entities.
“They are a no-kill shelter and our main goal is to limit the number of animals that we take to them. So that falls on our animal control officers to rehome these animals, to scan them for a microchip, to knock on doors, to do knock and talks,” he said. “In just the past two weeks, we have rehomed seven animals just by talking to the neighbors and asking, ‘Hey do you know who this dog belongs to?’ So it’s a good partnership and we do our best. We want to see them succeed and we want to be a good partner.”
Pet owners can reach the Rio Grande Valley Humane Society at Mission at 956-591-0058.
