Furry Tails: National Pet ID Week 2016
Has your pet ever gotten lost?
Our furry friends become a part of our family, and when they get loose or wander off, we do everything we can to find them.
Should it ever happen to your family, there's a simple thing you can do to help your pet find their way back to you.
Get them a microchip or ID tag.
That's the point of National Pet ID Week.
The nationally recognized week focuses on identifying and returning lost pets to their owners. Statistics show an estimated 10 million dogs and cats are lost or stolen in the United States every year.
The American Veterinary Medical Association says dogs with a registered microchip are 2.5 times more likely to be returned to their owner, and cats with microchips are 21 times more likely to get back home.
And don't worry about hurting your pet. The microchipping process is relatively painless. The device, about the size of a grain of rice, is put in just below your pet's skin.
So, if your pet doesn't have any form of ID, this is definitely the week to do it!
National pet store chain Pet Supplies Plus is teaming up with VIP Petcare to mark National Pet ID Week.
Pet Supplies Plus participating stores are offering pet owners discounts on pet ID products all week. They'll be offering $7 microchipping for pets, as well as 50 percent off all ID tags and silencers. Click here for more on the discount on ID tags and tag silencers.
The low-cost pet ID events are happening from April 17-23.
If you get your furry family member microchipped through Pet Supplies Plus, they will be registered with the non-profit registry FoundAnimals.org.
In a press release, Pet Supplies Plus CEO Chris Rowland said of National Pet ID Week:
"We firmly believe and understand that pets are important family members and feel very strongly that every pet should be properly identified to ensure safety and peace of mind. Microchips are statistically proven to be the most effective method to retrieve a lost pet and return him or her safely. During the annual National Pet ID Week, we encourage our neighbors to take advantage of our microchip and ID tag specials at their local Pet Supplies Plus store to significantly increase the chance that lost pets come home."
Also, if your local Pet Supplies Plus store doesn't have a veterinary partner, they'll help you find a veterinary clinic close to you with low-cost or free microchipping services.
So, don't let your pet become a statistic! Here's a list of Pittsburgh-area Pet Supplies Plus stores that have vets on-call and on-site throughout National Pet ID Week:
1100 Settlers Ridge Center Dr.
Robinson Township, PA 15205 | 412-788-4213
Mon-Sat 9-9, Sun 10-6
5229 Library Rd.
Bethel Park, PA 15102 | 412-831-8986
Mon-Sat 9-9, Sun 10-6
1155 Washington Pike
Bridgeville, PA 15017 | 412-221-5325
Mon-Sat 9-9, Sun 10-6
2001 Lincoln Way
White Oak, PA 15131 | 412-678-1394
Mon-Sat 9-9, Sun 10-6
120 Sara Way
Belle Vernon, PA 15012 | 724-929-3604
Mon-Sat 9-9, Sun 10-6
100 Mall Dr.
Steubenville, OH 43952 | 740-264-7760
Mon-Sat 9-9, Sun 10-6
For more information or to find a location near you, visit: http://www.petsuppliesplus.com/
Anything can happen, and if your pet does get lost, a microchip or ID tag is the best way to make sure your furry best friend will come back to you!
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Stay tuned animal lovers for more Furry Tails! You can follow me on Twitter at @HeatherLang24
