Through a partnership between Minneapolis Animal Care & Control (MACC), Best Friends Animal Society and North Minneapolis Pet Resource Center, community members can microchip their pets for free on Sept. 30.

The return rate for lost dogs nationwide has fallen 29 percent since 2019, according to the Best Friends Animal Society. That’s because there’s no way to identify them when they make their way to shelters. To help reverse this trend, public and private shelters, rescue groups and other animal welfare organizations are joining arms in this September’s Return to Home Challenge.

MACC is ramping up its own efforts to improve lost pets’ chances of finding their owners by co-hosting a free microchip clinic. The one-day clinic is open to all community members:

• Monday, Sept. 30 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• North Commons Recreation Center (1801 N James Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411)

About 33 percent of stray dogs, for example, at MACC are returned to their homes due to lack of identification. When a pet that isn’t microchipped finds its way to MACC, staff posts to the lost pet page with hopes to reunite the animal with its owner.

“It’s always heart-wrenching to know we have a pet that belongs to someone, but we can’t identify the owner,” said Madison Weissenborn, MACC’s volunteer coordinator and community partnership coordinator.

“Microchipping is a simple yet impactful step toward protecting your dog. We’re able to place a small microchip that has a unique ID under the skin. That way, if it comes through our doors, we scan it and instantly know who it belongs to,” said Danielle Joerger, animal shelter supervisor.  

MACC partners with the community to ensure the health and safety of pets and people by supporting the responsible and humane care of animals. We achieve this through education, community outreach, animal sheltering and enforcing laws about the care, control and protection of animals.