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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 15, 2010
| CONTACT: |
Jen Nixon, public information officer
NCDA&CS Public Affairs Division
(919) 707-3005 |
AKC CAR microchip donation boosts state’s
companion animal emergency efforts
Pictured left to right: Tom Sharp, CEO of the AKC CAR, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, Chester Lowder, NCSART, Mike Sprayberry, N.C. Emergency Management, Sharron Stewart, director of the NCDA&CS Emergency Programs Division and State Veterinarian Dr. David Marshall. Front row: Grainger
RALEIGH – AKC Companion Animal Recovery Wednesday donated 2,000 microchips and 40 scanners that will be used to help companion animals during an animal disaster.
The microchips were donated to the N.C. State Animal Response Team and will be used in Companion Animal Mobile Equipment Trailers that are placed throughout the state. The donation has a cash value of $32,800. Grainger, a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog owned by AKC CAR employee Laura Bullock, helped make the donation to state officials.
“The CAMETs are already stocked with a lot of useful equipment to set up an emergency shelter, but were lacking microchipping supplies to help shelter staff keep track of animals,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “This is an incredible donation and really helps make these trailers effective in an emergency situation where animals need to be sheltered – and most importantly, reunited with their families.”
The Companion Animal Mobile Equipment Trailers are equipped with materials to set up an emergency shelter for dogs and cats. There are 40 CAMETs deployed across the state and can be moved to areas that need them. Each CAMET has equipment to shelter up to 50 animals, but is not equipped with anything perishable.
A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is inserted in between the shoulder blades of a companion animal by a veterinarian. Lost animals are scanned by animal control to see if they have a microchip. A microchip number matches owner contact information in the AKC CAR database, hopefully making a reunion possible. In an emergency shelter, the donated scanners will help staff identify animals that already have microchips, and the rest of the animals can be microchipped to help tell them apart and keep records straight.
The CAMETs were created in a partnership between N.C. Emergency Management, N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the N.C. State Animal Response Team.
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