New Mobile Licensing Program to Help Lost and Stray Animals in Oceanside and Vista
San Diego Humane Society Launches Program to Help Reunite Lost Animals With Owners
SAN DIEGO - September 20, 2012 - At the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA, just four percent of cats and 35 percent of dogs are reclaimed by their owners when they get lost. Most of those returned are thanks to a pet tag or microchip. That’s why the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA is launching a new licensing program to reduce the number of lost and stray animals and to promote responsible pet ownership.
Mobile Pet Licensing, Microchip & Vaccination Clinics will rotate monthly through various locations in the Cities of Oceanside and Vista on the fourth Saturday of each month between the hours of 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
“Licensing and microchipping are essential to helping us reunite people with their pets if they become lost. People tend to think that it can’t happen to them, but it can. Especially now that we’re in the high season for wildfires, it’s so important to be prepared,” said Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA. “That’s why we’re putting a greater emphasis on licensing and making it more convenient for pet owners to obtain a license.”
The San Diego Humane Society is offering the following new incentives for licensing your animal in Oceanside and Vista:
- Fast Track: Found pets will be quickly reunited with their owner or rushed to a veterinarian if severely injured.
- Free Ride Home: A licensed pet will receive a free ride home the first time he/she is picked up, skipping a trip to the San Diego Humane Society and bypassing a “Running-at-Large” fine, typically a minimum of $55.
- Extended Stay: When found, a licensed pet will be cared for by a veterinarian at the shelter for an extended stay of up to 14 days prior to becoming available for adoption (typically this is limited to 4 days by law).
- Vacation Pet Alert: When you leave home for vacation, you can register the name of the animals’ temporary caregiver with the San Diego Humane Society. This makes it easier and faster to return the animal home should the animal become lost.
BENEFITS OF LICENSING
- Licensed pets are more likely to be reunited with their owners if they become lost.
- Natural disasters (like earthquakes or wild fires) or scary sounds (like fireworks) often cause pets to flee the safety of their homes or properties. Pets that are currently licensed, microchipped, and vaccinated have a far greater chance of being quickly returned to their owners and are protected from disease.
For more information about licensing your pet and for a licensing event calendar, please visit: www.sdhumane.org/licensing