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Keeping Your Pet Safe

Keeping Your Pet Safe
by Lesa Swearengin

Many of us regard our pets as members of the family. It only makes sense then to
protect them as we do our children. However, many animals enjoy adventuring
outside of the home. This problem led to the development of microchip technology.
By inserting a chip half the size of a grain of rice in between the animal's shoulder
blades, the pet can be tracked by a locating device.

The first question that comes to mind is the cost. Well, with the way competetion has
made the chip available through different vendors, the price has become very reasonable.
For $50, a veterenarian or assistant can microchip the pet in about 15 seconds. There
is no pain involved, and you're free to go in the time of a regular office visit.

Club Hill Animal Clinic, a business that only advertises by word of mouth, has been
performing the procedure for about three years. The technology has been practiced
for over ten years, but there was never a centralized tracking company. Many people
who had the microchip inserted soon found the companies, who were to locate the
pets, out of business. This led to bad publicity for the procedure. However, the American Kennel Club, or AKC, had taken over the tracking nationwide.

The chip information includes the pet's name, breed, vet, and emergency contact.
The AKC does charge a yearly fee for monitoring the chip, but it is a nominal cost.
Anyone who has felt the fear of losing their pet will be quick to say, peace of mind
is well worth the price. Maureen Brown, a technician at Club Hill, added "I think
everyone should have this (the microchip procedure) done. You can never be
too safe."

Club Hill Animal Clinic is located at 3339 Broadway Blvd. Garland, TX 75043
Their phone number is (972) 271-4426