UPDATE: This event has been postponed due to Hurricane Isaias. The event will now take place Sunday, August 9th from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. (while supplies last).
Earlier reporting below.
DeLand, FL - Volusia County Animal Services is holding an event this Sunday, August 2, to help out pet owners with free food and free microchipping. A drive-through event will take place at the Volusia County Fairgrounds from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
“The coronavirus is impacting our entire community, and pet owners are no exception,” said Volusia County Animal Services Director Adam Leath. “We’re pleased that we can offer some relief and be a resource to assist our residents during these difficult times.”
If you'd like to get your pet microchipped, print out the consent form and fill it out before heading to the Fairgrounds. Residents will not be getting out of their cars but need to be wearing a face covering. There will be two separate lines, one for pet food only and the other for both microchipping and pet food. The food will be loaded into the vehicles for residents. If they’re also there to get a pet microchipped, county staff will remove the pet from the vehicle and take it into the on-site facility for the quick and painless procedure. Just a few minutes later, and the pet will be brought back out to the owner’s vehicle.
The ASPCA® is supporting the second community event that Animal Services has hosted by supplying more than $10,000 worth of pet food. The first one last month in Daytona Beach was a huge success, resulting in the distribution of 398 bags of pet food and the microchipping of 388 pets.
Microchips are about the size of a grain of rice and are implanted just under the skin. With the wave of a handheld wand over the pet’s back, the ID code on the microchip will lead to the owner’s name and contact information – significantly increasing the odds of a happy reunion with pets that get lost or separated from their home and are later found wandering.
“Pets get separated from their families all the time, causing stress to both pet and owner,” said Leath. “We want to do our best to make sure all lost pets get returned home safely. A microchip is one of the best ways to make sure that happens.”
