National statistics show that as many as eight million animals end up in shelters every year, and only 15-20% of dogs and less than 2% of cats are returned to their owners. One of the ways to increase the chances of finding your lost pet is having it microchipped.  Kent County Animal Control takes in 30 animals a day, and many do not have any identifying tags.  The Animal Shelter is offering a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to make sure your pet can be identified.
Starting October 1st, Kent County Animal Control will offer walk-in microchips for the public, with just a $20.00 fee. “Our hope is to encourage responsible pet ownership,” says Cathy Raevsky, Administrative Health Officer of the Kent County Health Department.
According to research in an October 2009 ScienceDaily article, “the return-to-owner rate for cats was 20 times higher and for dogs 2 ½ times higher for microchipped pets than were the rates of return for all stray cats and dogs that had entered the shelters.”
We remind anyone with a microchipped pet to make sure their address and phone number is up-to-date, in case the pet goes missing.  Also, the Animal Shelter has dozens of pets looking for a good home right now.  If you know of someone looking for a furry companion, tell them to come see us!