Free microchipping event to take place in Chicago

Jovica Varga / stock.adobe.com

24Pet, a company focusing on lost and found pet recovery, is hosting a "Chip in,” a dog and cat microchipping event in Chicago, Illinois, and surrounding suburbs on June 24, 2023. 24Pet is teaming up with 10 shelters across various locations to offer free microchipping services to the local community in preparation of the Fourth of July, when over 3,000 pets commonly go missing, each year.¹

According to a company release,¹ Illinois sees a substantial increase in missing pets on the Fourth of July, with at least a 600% spike in call volume to 24Pet, in previous years. Microchipped dogs are twice as likely to make return home, and cats are ten times as likely.² With only 20-30% of dogs and cats microchipped in the US, according to 24Pet data,¹ "Chip in" hopes to get more pets microchipped and help more easily reunite lost pets with owners.

"When we looked at our data and saw that thousands of pets go missing around the Fourth of July, we knew we had to do something to ensure pets are getting out of shelters and back to their homes as quickly as possible," said Nicole Bennett, 24Pet lead and president of ecosystem for Independence Pet Group, in the release.¹ "We're grateful to partner with organizations from the Chicagoland Humane Coalition to help provide this critical service to companion animals. We hope our efforts across the city will lead to hundreds of more pets getting microchipped and helping to reunite them with their families if they ever get lost."

Dog and cat owners in the Chicagoland area can visit the following shelters to get free microchipping¹:

• South Suburban Humane Society
• Animal Care League
• DuPage County Animal Services
• Orphans of the Storm
• Chicago Animal Care & Control
• The Anti-Cruelty Society
• Heartland Animal Shelter (in partnership with Tree House Humane Society)
• Spay Illinois Pet Well Clinics
• Heartland Animal Shelter
• Evanston Animal Shelter

Each shelter's operating hours will vary. Visit www.24pet.com/chip-in to find nearby locations and their hours. Some locations may offer appointments outside of the posted hours.

Those engaging in the event will automatically be registered with 24Pet. Pet owners can also stop by participating shelters to check if their pet is already microchipped, and can then register at 24petwatch.com for free. By registering with 24Pet, the pet's microchip will be connected with the company's database of over 5,000 shelters, rescues, clinics and partners in case the pet gets lost.¹

What’s more, there will be a special focus on dogs over 40 lbs as part of the Coalition's "Chicago Dog Summer" promotion because larger dogs are having a more challenging time finding homes, not only in Chicagoland, but nationwide.¹ Learn more here: Chicagolandhumanecoalition.org.

References

1. 24Pet to 'Chip in' to help lost Chicago area pets reunite with their families. News release. Independence Pet Group, Inc. June 6, 2023. Accessed June 6, 2023. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/24pet-to-chip-in-to-help-lost-chicago-area-pets-reunite-with-their-families-301843817.html
2. Cat & dog microchipping. The animal foundation. Accessed June 6, 2023. https://animalfoundation.com/low-cost-vet-clinic/cat-dog-microchipping