Tagbilaran City gov’t offers free pet microchipping

The Tagbilaran City government is offering microchipping services for pets on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas)

TAGBILARAN CITY — The local government here on Thursday launched free pet microchipping as part of digitizing the pet registry of the city.

Mayor Jane Yap said the pet microchipping, which is the first in the province of Bohol, aims to promote responsible ownership and to ensure that the city is rabies-free.

“Our target is really to register the entire Tagbilaran City, the pets, and their [responsible] owners,” she said.

The mayor said the free microchipping service for pets was done to keep track of their whereabouts.

“There have been a lot of road accidents because of the negligence of pet owners. Many people would ask who was responsible for the one who was hospitalized or died because the dog was out. So this is one of the solutions,” she said.

There were 10 pre-registered pets who were given microchips during Thursday’s launch.

The microchip is equivalent to the size of a grain of rice. It is implanted through injection between the shoulder blades of the animal.

Once implanted, the microchip becomes a permanent identification of the pet, and the owners’ information is linked to it.

Dr. Genette Mae Egos, head of the City Agriculture and Veterinary Office, said microchipping also has other benefits.

“It would allow the monitoring of the pets’ vaccination status and would help ensure these are up to date. Should the pets get lost, it would be easier to find them,” she said.

“The microchip would not get lost and is permanent and safe as well,” she added.

Residents can visit the City Agriculture and Veterinary Office to have their pets chipped.

Yap said those who are interested in the service should wait for the schedule for their barangay.

READ: Valenzuela offers free microchip implant for pets