Oregon Public Broadcasting

Multnomah County Animal Services is offering low-cost microchips and rabies shots for pets Saturday.  As Pete Springer reports, the county wants to boost the number of animals who can be identified for return to their owners.

In 2007, more than 19,000 dogs and  24,000 cats ended up in animal shelters throughout Oregon. 

About half the dogs were reunited with their owners, but only four percent of the cats were. 

Mike Oswald runs the Multnomah County Animal Shelter.  He says the rates of reuniting dogs and cats to their owners in the county is slightly lower than the state average.

Mike Oswald: “The microchip really is a second level of insurance in case your dog or cat might have lost it’s tags.  So it’s really, it’s another level of protection.”

No one knows how many pets have microchips since they’re used by both private veterinarians and shelters.

The microchips are about the size a piece of uncooked rice.  They are installed under a pet’s skin and allow scanners to read information on how to contact the pet’s owner.