In honor of National Chip Your Pet Month, and with the help of 24PetWatch microchip registry, Woods Humane Society will provide four, free microchip clinics to help community members protect their pets if the pets become lost.

The clinics are by-appointment only and will be held at Woods North County, 2-4 p.m. Fridays, May 8 and 22 and 2-4 p.m. at Woods SLO on Wednesdays, May 6 and 20.

“Microchips are truly lifesavers,” said Woods CEO Emily L’Heureux. “As we approach a time of year when fireworks scare animals and make lost pet numbers increase dramatically, these devices provide some insurance that lost animals can be reunited with their loving families rather than entering the overtaxed animal shelter systems across the country.

“Tiny, harmless and inexpensive, microchips make a huge impact and help us reserve kennels for animals who are truly without a home.”

The American Humane Association estimates 10 million pets are lost in the U.S. annually, and only 15 percent of lost dogs and 2 percent of lost cats in shelters without ID tags or microchips are reunited with their owners.

Pets with microchips are 20 times more likely to be reunited with their owners, the shelter reports.

Regularly priced at $20 at Woods Humane Society, microchips are about the size of a grain of rice and are implanted just under the skin.

Each chip contains a unique code that can be scanned easily by a veterinarian or an animal shelter employee to look up the pet owner’s contact information in an online national database like 24PetWatch.

L’Heureux said all Woods animals are microchipped before being adopted, and pet owners can protect their pets by making sure their microchip registration is up-to-date with current contact information.

Woods Humane Society is also offering 50% off its engraved pet ID tags from May through July.

To participate in Woods’ free Microchip Clinics, pet owners must make an appointment in advance. Pets must be friendly and easily handled. No veterinary exam or additional services will be provided at the time of microchip administration.

Microchips will be registered using the owner’s contact information provided at booking. A valid email address is required for registration.

Local pet owners can find more information or make an appointment to get their pets microchipped at either Woods location by visiting woodshumanesociety.org/microchip.

To learn more about what to do if you find or lose a pet, visit https://woodshumanesociety.org/resources/lost-pet-help/. Woods Humane Society has two locations, 875 Oklahoma Ave., San Luis Obispo, and 2300 Ramona Road, Atascadero.

For more about adopting, donating or other programs, visit www.woodshumane.org or call 805-543-9316 or 805-466-5403.