Vet Tech Students Provide Free Microchipping

May 15, 2019 - 03:14 PM

Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) students and two professors teamed up with State Senator Ling Ling Chang recently to provide free pet microchipping services as part of National Pet Month.

Nearly 100 microchips were implanted in dogs and cats as part of PawFest held in Placentia. “It was such a great event to participate in,” said Dawn Waters, director of the RVT Program. “I was so incredibly proud of our students.”

Waters, Dr. Naomi Barnes, seven current students and a RVT program graduate participated in the community event. Waters said the group was asked to help at future clinics and students were invited to assist with events hosted by the Healthcare & Emergency Animal Rescue Team, which goes out and cares for the pets at homeless encampments. 

Experts say microchipping of pets is the easiest and most effective way to help pets in the tragic event they become lost or separated, but many have never undergone this simple process. Senate Bill 64, authored by Senator Chang, would change this. The bill would require local animal control agencies to implant and register microchips in all recovered cats and dogs, potentially reuniting thousands of pets with loving families.

Top photo, from left to right: Jessica Aguilar, Yasmine Li, Omar Castro, Simmy Ogg (Mt. SAC RVT graduate), Sarah Barker, Joshua Kozarek, Professor Dawn Waters, Senator Ling Ling Chang, Dr. Naomi Barnes, Regina Chen, and Mayra Chavez.