For National Chip Your Pet Month, Nonprofit Offers Clinics on May 6, 8, 20 and 22, 2026
In honor of National Chip Your Pet Month, and with the help of 24PetWatch microchip registry, Woods Humane Society announces four, free microchip clinics to help members of the public protect their pets if they ever become lost. The free clinics are by-appointment only and will be held at Woods North County on Fridays, May 8 and 22 from 2-4 p.m. and at Woods SLO on Wednesdays, May 6 and 20 from 2-4 p.m.
“Microchips are truly lifesavers,” says Woods CEO Emily L’Heureux. “As we approach a time of year when fireworks scare animals and make lost pet numbers increase dramatically, these devices provide some insurance that lost animals can be reunited with their loving families rather than entering the overtaxed animal shelter systems across the country. Tiny, harmless, and inexpensive, microchips make a huge impact and help us reserve kennels for animals who are truly without a home.”
The American Humane Association estimates that 10 million pets are lost in the United States each year, and only 15 percent of lost dogs and 2 percent of lost cats in shelters without ID tags or microchips are reunited with their owners. Pets with microchips are 20 times more likely to be reunited with their owners.
Regularly priced at $20 at Woods Humane Society, microchips are about the size of a grain of rice and are implanted just under the skin. Each chip contains a unique code that can be scanned easily by a veterinarian or an animal shelter employee to look up the pet owner’s contact information in an online national database like 24PetWatch.
L’Heureux notes that all Woods animals are microchipped before being adopted and pet owners can protect their pets by making sure their microchip registration is up-to-date with current contact information. Woods Humane Society is also offering 50% off their engraved pet ID tags from May through July, 2026, to help ensure pets are protected and easily returned home if they become lost.
In order to participate in Woods’ free Microchip Clinics, pet owners must make an appointment in advance. Pets must be friendly and easily handled. No veterinary exam or additional services will be provided at the time of microchip administration. Microchips will be registered using the owner’s contact information provided at booking. A valid email address is required for registration.
Local pet owners can find more information or make an appointment to get their pets microchipped for free at either Woods location by visiting woodshumanesociety.org/microchip. To learn more about what to do if you find or lose a pet, visit https://woodshumanesociety.org/resources/lost-pet-help/. Woods Humane Society is located at 875 Oklahoma Ave., San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 and at 2300 Ramona Rd., Atascadero, CA 93422.
