To better align with its mission to ensure all cats are microchipped, Alley Cat Allies has announced a new initiative to microchip its employees so they can be returned to work if they get lost or fail to make it back to the office after a particularly festive lunch hour. The microchipping-a-worker initiative is set to begin April 1.
“Who are we to advocate that every indoor cat and community cat be microchipped if we aren’t willing to be microchipped ourselves?” says Brianna Lovell, associate director of community engagement & events.
Lovell, who travels extensively to educate people about the benefits of Trap-Neuter-Return, was one of the first staff members to receive the chip because of her roaming from state to state.
Like with cats, the implantation of a microchip is quick, inexpensive, and relatively painless. While the microchip is usually placed between the shoulders of animals, it works best for humans when placed on the back of the wrist. This allows the staff member to scan themselves and permits others to scan them as well.
Alley Cat Allies’ microchips provide the bonus of allowing employees to easily open doors and clock in and out by simply scanning their wrists.
“I think this is a great idea,” says the recently microchipped Daniel Lopez Brena, senior national cat help desk specialist and campaigns, who has helped countless cats through the TNR program.
“Before the microchip I was notorious for leaving my key fob at home, meaning I needed to call someone to let me in the office every morning. Now I never get locked out! But, more importantly, the shared microchip experience helps me connect with the community cats we serve,” says Lopez Brena.
Alley Cat Allies offers a variety of resources on best practices for microchipping cats, and tips on how to successfully scan for a microchip. These guides can easily be applied to humans.
“It’s our hope that in addition to encouraging everyone to chip the cats in their lives, veterinarians, animal control officers, and shelter staff can eventually offer this service to owners and caregivers around the nation,” says Lovell.
At press time, Alley Cat Allies President and Founder Becky Robinson couldn’t be reached for comment as her whereabouts were unknown. She was last seen at a local vegan bakery. Fortunately, a simple scan is the first step to ensuring she makes it safely back to the office, preferably with cookies for the staff.
Happy April Fool’s Day! But we’re not joking when we say microchipping cats is the best way to make sure they return to homes, whether indoors or outdoors.