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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF JUNE AS NATIONAL MICROCHIP MONTH
WHEREAS, every June, National Microchip Month is an awareness campaign designed to promote pet microchipping as a simple, safe, and effective means of helping reunite lost pets with their owners; and
WHEREAS, by 1985, U.S.-based AVID Identification Systems, Inc. filed a patent for microchipping technology; and
WHEREAS, in the late 1980s to early 1990s, the first microchips were being implanted into pets; and
WHEREAS, in 2004, the American Food and Drug Administration stated that microchipping is a safe process for both animals and humans; and
WHEREAS, 1 in 3 pets will become lost at some point in their lives; and
WHEREAS, pets with microchips are 20 times more likely to be reunited with their families; and
WHEREAS, a microchip is permanent and can't be removed or fall off like a collar; and
WHEREAS, over 10 million pets are lost each year in the U.S; and
WHEREAS, only 22% of lost dogs without microchips are returned to their owners, compared to 52% with microchips; and
WHEREAS, for cats, the numbers are even more dramatic-38% of microchipped cats make it home, compared to less than 2% without; and
WHEREAS, a microchip is a tiny chip (about the size of a grain of rice) implanted under a pet's skin, usually between the shoulder blades.
WHEREAS, a microchip carries a unique ID number that links to a national pet registry; and
WHEREAS, vets and shelters use scanners to read the ID and contact the registered owner; and
WHEREAS, one can register the chip with your contact information; and
WHEREAS, a pet owner should update their information anytime they move or change phone numbers, it is crucial to have their pet's chips up to date; and
WHEREAS, the individuals can have their vet scan the chip during regular checkups to ensure it's still working; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Department of Animal &?Rabies Control (ARC) hosts free or low-cost microchip clinics for pets a...
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