KENNEBUNK – On Saturday, Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. to noon, the Animal Welfare Society’s Community Veterinary Clinic will provide free microchips and rabies vaccines for dogs and cats. The clinic is located on the Animal Welfare Society campus at 46 Holland Road in Kennebunk. AWS encourages all pet families in our region to microchip their pets and keep their rabies vaccines up to date.
“A microchip is a small device, about the size of a grain of rice, that your veterinarian inserts under your pet’s skin near the shoulder blade,” explains AWS Executive Director Abigail Smith. “It’s a painless procedure that takes only a few minutes. At AWS’s Community Veterinary Clinic, we offer microchipping at the time of your wellness appointment or procedure (including spay/neuter). Additionally, AWS All of our dogs and cats are microchipped prior to adoption.”
A microchip is an important tool for identifying your pet if it gets lost or runs away. Local animal shelters, including AWS, most veterinarians, and many police departments have special microchip scanners to use when unidentified (lost or stray) pets enter their facilities. Once the chip is found, the pet owner’s contact information will pop up to speed up the happy reunion. Recent studies have shown that dogs with microchips are three times more likely to be reunited than those without. This number is impressive for a feline that rarely wears a collar or tag and spends most of its time outdoors. Microchipped cats are 20 times more likely to be returned to their families than non-microchipped cats.
The AWS Microchip and Rabies Vaccine Clinic on November 2nd will be free and open to the public. Dogs and cats over 12 weeks of age can be given a microchip, rabies vaccine, or both. To receive the triennial rabies vaccine, pet owners must bring a previous rabies certificate or record from a veterinarian. Otherwise, your pet will receive one year of vaccines.
For more information or to RSVP, visit https://animalwelfaresociety.org/event/microchip-rabies-vaccine-clinic-1124/. When participants RSVP, they can choose the time slot and the services their pet needs. As stock is limited, same-day drop-ins are also welcome.
There is no cost for microchips or rabies vaccines, but donations are welcome and support AWS’ mission to provide for pets and their families. AWS and its on-site community veterinary clinic welcome more than 10,000 pets each year. For more information about the AWS Community Veterinary Clinic, please visit https://animalwelfaresociety.org/veterinary-care/.
A nonprofit organization founded in 1967, the Animal Welfare Association serves as a safety net for lost and misplaced pets, keeping pets and their families together and providing affordable care necessary for long-term health. Exists to provide access to services and resources. And thrive. Built in 2017, AWS’s onsite community veterinary clinic provides full-service, high-quality veterinary care to companion animals in the community.
