Anchorage, AK—
Animal Care and Control celebrated "Pet New Year" with the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in an event that promotes pet vaccinations and microchipping.Held at the Alaska Mill and Feed warehouse, the Pet New Year offered discounted rabies vaccinations and microchip clinics. The AACCC and SPCA emphasized the importance of licensing and tagging pets and gave the first 30 spayed or neutered animals free microchips.
The AACCC says that in 2011 only 35% of animals brought to them were returned to their owners. They say many of the thousands of pets they received showed signs of coming from homes where they were cared for, trained and loved. However, because the animals have no form of identification they are never returned home.
Microchipping and tagging helps animal control return the pets to their owners and having a municipal license will ensure that the animal receives medical care if injured. Municipal licenses also allows the AACCC to keep the animal longer before having to put it up for adoption.
In Anchorage, municipal licenses are required for all dogs over the age of four months and required for cats when they're off their owners property.
