A total of 123 pets received free microchips in B.C.’s Interior last week in an effort to make sure lost animals can be reunited with their families, the B.C. SPCA says. The organization says its microchipping clinics in Kelowna, Penticton and Kamloops received an “overwhelming response” and hopes to have more in the future “We saw countless pets and families affected by wildfires this summer, and many of them were tragically separated from their pets,” said Kahlee Demers, senior manager of animal triage and flow, in a news release Thursday. “It becomes challenging to identify and reunite pets if they don’t have ID, so our goal with these clinics was to help alleviate any future potential stress and offer free microchips for pet owners.” Microchips are the size of a grain of rice and injected into the scruff of an animal’s neck. The B.C. SPCA says the procedure is quick and most animals don’t notice it. A microchip is not a GPS tracker—it contains an identification number that when scanned provides the pet owner’s contact information. Demers said microchips are the most reliable form of pet identification as tattoos can fade and collars can fall off or be removed. “We weren’t thinking about wildfires or floods or anything like that when we got her,” a dog owner who attended a microchip event is quoted as saying in the release. “But with the Summerland fire last month, I’m really glad we’re getting it done now, because you just never know.” The B.C. SPCA says many lost pets that come into their care are never returned home because their owners can’t be identified. About 85 per cent of stray cats and 40 per cent of stray dogs could not be reunited with their families in 2025, according to the charity.
