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FAIRFIELD, IOWA -- In Fairfield Saturday, the Noah’s Ark Animal Foundation continued its tradition of micro-chipping pets from around southeast Iowa.

The microchips are about the size of a grain of rice and implanted under the skin between the shoulder blades. The process is very quick, and the animal feels minimal if no pain at all.

The positive of having this done to your pet, if your pet ever gets out on accident or runs away from home, it is a great way to locate the animal when it is found by someone else.

“The scans are universal; and no matter what type of microchip it is, when it is scanned, the animal can be identified,” said Dawn Safrit, Executive Director of Noah’s Ark. “Whoever finds the animal then can call the company that issued the chip. We use 24 Hour Pet Watch, and they will contact the owner of the pet.”

Safrit added that veterinarians and police departments have the equipment needed to scan a lost pet.

The foundation will be having more micro-chipping events in 2013. For more information on the Noah’s Ark Animal Foundation, click here.