RENO, NV -- Proposals by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office allowing Regional Animal Services to provide pet owners with free microchips and waive  late fees for dog license renewal were approved by the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners during today’s meeting. 

The Sheriff’s Office proposed these two campaigns as part of efforts to increase successful returns of lost pets and raise awareness about the value of dog licenses, motivating dog owners to renew licenses for their pets. Animal Services will determine dates and locations for the campaigns, which are scheduled to begin in February of 2013.

“Washoe County Regional Animal Services believes that microchipping is your pet’s best chance of finding home if it ever becomes lost,” Regional Animal Services Manager Barry Brode said. “We have some incredible stories about dogs and cats who were found hundreds of miles from home, or months after they became lost, that we were returned home amidst tears of joy thanks to successful microchipping programs.”

The proposed microchip campaign allows Animal Services to provide free microchips to pet owners for one year beginning in February of 2013.

A microchip is a small, electronic chip enclosed in a glass cylinder about the size of a grain of rice. The microchip is activated by a scanner which receives information about the pet’s owners and home from the chip.

In many cases, microchipped pets can be scanned in the field and returned to their homes without ever having to be brought to the shelter, reducing stress for the pet, the pet owner and the cost of operating Animals Services.

The second proposal allows Regional Animal Service to waive late fees for dog license renewal for one year beginning in February of 2013.

The goal of waiving late fees for dog licenses is to increase public awareness about the importance of dog licenses. Licenses benefit the animals, the dog owners and the community in many ways.

When dogs get lost, licenses enable Animal Services staff to quickly identify and reunite lost dogs with their owners.  Officers will make every reasonable effort to return licensed dogs to their owners before transporting them to the shelter, saving time and money.

People who find a dog with a license tag are more likely to call Animal Services instead of assuming it was abandoned and keeping your dog. Licenses are also proof of ownership in case your dog is stolen.

Licensing fees help support over 12,000 lost and homeless animals brought into the shelter every year.

For more information about microchipping and dog licenses, visit washoesheriff.com/animal-services.