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The BC SPCA microchipped 123 pets for free in Kelowna, Penticton and Kamloops to help reunite lost animals with families after a summer of wildfires.
The BC SPCA says 123 pets received free microchips in British Columbia's Interior last week during a drive to help ensure lost animals can be reunited with their families. The organization held clinics in Kelowna, Penticton and Kamloops.
The charity reported an overwhelming response to the free microchip clinics and said it hopes to hold more microchipping drives in the future.
Wildfire Season Prompts Free Microchip Clinics
Kahlee Demers, senior manager of animal triage and flow at the BC SPCA, said the effort was shaped by this summer's wildfires.
Demers said countless pets and families were affected by wildfires this summer, and many were tragically separated from their pets. She said it becomes challenging to identify and reunite pets if they do not have ID.
She added that the goal of the clinics was to help alleviate any future potential stress and offer free microchips for pet owners.
One dog owner who attended a microchip event said they were not thinking about wildfires or floods when they got their pet, but after the Summerland fire last month they were glad to get the microchip done because you never know what can happen.
How Pet Microchips Help Reunite Animals
Microchips are the size of a grain of rice and are injected into the scruff of an animal's neck. The BC SPCA says the procedure is quick and most animals do not 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 because tattoos can fade and collars can fall off or be removed.
Stray Pets Often Never Return Home
The BC SPCA says many lost pets that come into its care are never returned home because their owners cannot be identified.
According to the charity, about 85 per cent of stray cats and 40 per cent of stray dogs could not be reunited with their families in 2025.
The free clinics in Kelowna, Penticton and Kamloops were aimed at reducing those numbers by giving pet owners a permanent form of identification.
The BC SPCA said the strong turnout in the Interior shows demand for the service and that it hopes to expand microchipping efforts in the future.
BC SPCA Pet Microchips Kelowna Penticton Kamloops Wildfires Summerland Fire
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