SAN ANTONIO — In an effort to help keep San Antonio pets safe, Animal Care Services is offering residents free microchipping for dogs and cats on Friday. 

Residents can take their fur babies to the San Juan Community Center on May 4 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. No appointments are needed but the animal must be leashed or in a carrier.

An implanted microchip includes basic lifetime registration and is updateable at any time, for no charge.  A microchip is no bigger than a grain of rice and the one-time injection is similar to a vaccination. The pet’s microchip has a unique ID number which can be read by a scanner at a shelter or a veterinary clinic. It can help trace the dog or cat back to the owner if they are ever lost.