The Post Office, banks and insurance companies — and of course family — should be notified when a New Mexican moves to a new address.
The Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department is reminding the public that updating a pet’s microchip information is also a must.
The department is offering through the end of March free microchipping and pet tags at the city’s Eastside and Westside shelters. The events will allow pet owners to verify their contact information, increasing the likelihood of a swift pet reunion.
“An unregistered or outdated microchip is like a lighthouse with no light; Animal Welfare Department director Carolyn Ortega said in a news release. “Its potential to guide is lost.”
She said all pet owners should make sure their companions’ chips are registered with current contact information.
“This is a lifesaving act that can make the difference between despair and a joyful reunion with your beloved pets,” Ortega said.
Contact information, according to the release, should include phone numbers and addresses for the pet owner and emergency contact.
Anyone wishing to microchip a pet must be 18 or older and have a valid ID. No appointment is needed.
The Animal Welfare Department’s “Reunite” microchipping scanner program has 36 locations at which anyone who finds a lost pet can check its microchip. A list of those locations, which include stations, police substations and local businesses, is available here.