IDENTIFICATION FOR FUR BABIES

Dog owners in Valenzuela City bring their pets on Saturday to the Libis Covered Court in Barangay Canumay East, for a free microchip implant procedure administered by Dr. Wilfredo del Castillo of the city’s veterinary office. Left photo shows a dog with a seemingly worried, wide-eyed look as Del Castillo prepares to use a specially designed syringe to insert the chip on its back, below the neck area. Middle photo shows Sky, an Aspin (“asong Pinoy”), facing a web camera as a staff member of the veterinary office takes her picture, while another dog (right), apparently tense, buries its snout in the arms of its master. The chips function as a permanent ID storing such information as the names, photos, birthdates and breeds of the dogs, as well as the names, photos, addresses, contact numbers and vaccination records of their owners. Del Castillo said the city government has provided this service to some 25,000 dogs, but he hopes to reach a total target of 60,000. Two months old is the minimum age for this procedure, which is more suitable however for healthy dogs that are a little older.