Base vet clinic now requires pet microchipping

  • Published
  • By the Whiteman Air Force Base Veterinary Treatment Facility staff
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo., --  The Whiteman Air Force Base Veterinary Treatment Facility will require all pets to have a microchip in order to receive services starting June 1.

The VTF is making the policy change to be in compliance with Army regulations that require all animals residing on a military installation have a microchip.

Ten million pets are lost each year and often end up in the pound as a stray. Since pets cannot tell who they belong to and frequently do not have a collar, microchipping is the best way to establish ownership and return the pet to their rightful owner.

For military members who PCS overseas, many countries now require pets to have a microchip in order to bring them along. Each state or country has lengthy requirements and procedures for bringing pets. The entire process starts with microchipping, as all of your pet's paperwork must list the microchip number.

Given the military's necessity for microchipped pets, the armed forces have developed a program to assist military pet owners. The VTF will microchip pets for $14.16 using the HomeAgain system. That price includes the activation fee, lost pet medical insurance, and annual membership fees for the life of a servicemember's military service.

Microchipping pets off base can start around $40, plus the $10 activation fee, as well as the $14.99 annual membership fee.

The only information contained on the chip is the microchip identification number. The pet owner's contact information, along with an alternative contact's name and phone number will be stored in the HomeAgain database.

When an agency finds a pet, HomeAgain will notify them of the owner's information to ensure immediate contact. If a person loses a pet, they can call in a lost pet report to HomeAgain, who will alert their veterinarian, local clinics and shelters and any local PetRescuers.

For more information, call the Whiteman Veterinary Treatment Facility to set up an appointment to have your pets microchipped at (660) 687-2667.