Cat microchipping clinics prove popular

A partnership between Otago Polytechnic Vet Nursing students and Predator Free Dunedin to run cat microchipping clinics at the School of Animal Health is set to continue.

The two groups joined forces to offer local pet owners free or subsidised microchipping for their feline friends, as part of the Wild Dunedin NZ Festival of Nature.

Predator Free Dunedin spokeswoman Rosie Olsen said the procedure was one of the simplest, most effective steps cat owners could take.

“If your cat ever gets lost or injured, a microchip [with up-to-date details] makes it much easier to reunite you quickly,” she said.

Two public clinics were run last week, with second year Diploma in Veterinary Nursing students carrying out the brief microchipping procedure, under the supervision of staff including Animal Health principal lecturer Catherine Rice.

Among the people who attended the clinic were an older couple who got a nudge from their daughter to bring in both their cats, along with a father and young daughter who brought in their former stray cat which had followed the girl home from school one day.

Positive feedback from the local cat owners, has encouraged the two groups to make plans to run monthly clinics over the coming months.

Dates and details will be advertised on the Predator Free Dunedin website.

* The Star newspaper ran a great story on the clinics.   Read more here >>