Imagine this…you’re out for a walk with your beloved pooch when something startles him. After a series of canine contortions that would put Houdini to shame, you’re left holding a leash and collar with no dog attached. Or someone accidentally forgets to close the gate to your fence, and Max decides to wander down the street to that sassy little Italian Greyhound’s yard while you’re at work. Unfortunately, these things happen all the time. If this happened with one of your precious pups, have you prepared them with any tools that might make their return easier?

I’m not talking about strapping a survival kit to your dog, but there are things that you can do to greatly increase the odds that your little angel comes back to you safe and sound. Consider having your dog microchipped. Sounds expensive, right? It really isn’t. Nor is it a complicated procedure, just a quick injection of a microchip that is barely larger than a grain of rice. But the possible benefits are huge. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Control officers carry microchip scanners in their vehicles, and according to their website, 85% of microchipped pets that are picked up are taken back to their families without ever having to stop at the shelter. Most veterinary offices also have scanners and can help facilitate your dog’s return. Chances are that if you adopted your dog from CharMeck Animal Control or another local shelter, they already have a microchip, but it’s up to you to make sure that your contact information is current.

If your dog (or cat) does need to be microchipped, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control is holding a Chips for Lunch Microchip Clinic for only $10 on Friday, February 27 from 11-2 at the Petsmart in Matthews. Your veterinarian should also be able to microchip your pet during a normal office visit. Hopefully, you’ll never NEED the microchip, but if you do…your dog will thank you for it.