HOUSTON –In August, 2,544 animals were turned in to BARC Animal Shelter & Adoptions. One special pet, a bull terrier named Chester, had been missing for over 2 years.
Luckily, Chester had an implanted microchip with information that allowed the BARC staff to contact the owner. Thanks to the updated microchip, Chester was happily reunited with his family.
“Microchips can reunite you with your pet, but only if the microchips are updated with your latest contact information. We encourage all pet owners to check their pets’ microchips on a yearly basis,” said Jennifer Barrera Wandrey, Outreach Manager at BARC.
Microchipping is an imperative part of find pets that go missing. If your pets are ever lost, make sure they can have a happy ending like Chester by getting them microchipped. BARC’s Wellness Center offers pet microchipping for $15, which includes a life-time registration. Additional wellness services are available during clinic hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information please call 311.
The simplest, but most powerful thing Houstonians can do to help BARC and pets throughout the community is to foster, volunteer, donate and adopt. If you are unable to permanently adopt a pet but would like to help animals in need, BARC encourages you to consider becoming a volunteer or a foster pet parent at BARC. By getting these animals out of BARC and into foster homes, BARC has more space for additional animals as they enter the shelter.
About the BARC
BARC, the City of Houston’s Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, takes in more than 25,000 animals annually regardless of behavior, breed, or medical condition. BARC works each day to improve the health and safety of Houstonians and their pets by pioneering programs such as low cost and no cost spay/neuter services, mobile adoptions, transfer/rescue partnerships, and community outreach. Through these programs and with support from community partners, BARC’s live release rate has improved from single-digits in 2009 to 84.6 % in 2018.