By Justine Kelsie

Bylaw Officer recommends pets get microchipped

Nov 24, 2017 | 4:17 PM

Bylaw Officers in the region want people to microchip their pets.

County Bylaw Sgt. Kim Donecz looks after the Grande Prairie Regional Animal Care Facility operated by the County and the City of Grande Prairie. She is recommending every cat or dog get the piece of identification.

“Primarily, it is just being able to return pets to their owners. Fifteen per cent of animals that are brought to our pound has some sort of identification on them which allows them to do a follow through on finding their owners and reuniting them,” explained Donecz.

“Without any form of identification on your animal, your chances of being reunited with them is significantly less.”

She explains that “microchipping” is a small implant that doesn’t injure the animal. It is about the size of a grain of rice or smaller.

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“It holds specific information for the animal. If we put a microchip in an animal, it is done with a small needle and it is injected. The microchip itself has a number and it is an identification number.”

Even with a microchip, you will need to license your pet and keep tags on them, according to the officer. This will give another chance to have your pet back if they get lost.

A Microchip Clinic is being held by the GPRACF at Petland on Saturday, November 25. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Officers will be on hand to answer questions and issue city or county pet licenses. Microchipping of pets will also be done at the event for a discounted price.

Bylaw Officers can hand out tickets to people with animals that are found not wearing their licensed tags. The first time, people are usually let off with a warning, according to Donecz. The cost of tickets ranges from each incident.