Free Microchipping, Rabies Vaccinations for Licensed Dogs in Clackamas County

CLACKAMAS, OR – Microchipping your dog has been made easier thanks to Clackamas County Dog Services and Good Neighbor Vet.

On the fourth Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the parking lot of the Clackamas County Dog Services facility, located at 13141 S.E. Highway 212 in Clackamas, the two animal service providers offer free microchipping and rabies vaccinations with proof of a county dog license. This offer does not apply to dog owners in Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, or Tualatin, which each have different licensing requirements.

According to the county facility’s volunteer and outreach coordinator, Sarah Holcombe, microchipping is the best way to track a pet if it runs away and/or gets lost, or is stolen.

Since beginning the free Saturday program in January, the county dog shelter has increased the number of dogs microchipped from about five per month to 30 per month, Holcombe told Patch Wednesday.

"We used to offer a discount (on microchipping) when people would purchase their licenses, but had to stop to break even," Holcombe said, noting the county charged dog owners $15 for the service. "We found it's more economical for us to offer the free day (once per month) rather than the constant discount."

The cost of microchipping a dog varies depending on the clinic, she said, but typically runs between $10 and $80. Rabies vaccinations fall anywhere between $5 and $50. And the county facility charges $24 to license a spayed or neutered dog, $41 is the dog is fertile.

Clackamas County Dog Services staff estimate roughly 60 percent of the dogs that come through the facility are not microchipped.

For Good Neighbor Vet, which runs its mobile clinics in Washington, Oregon, and Western Idaho, rabies vaccinations and microchipping are just parts of being a responsible pet owner.

"The clinics promote wellness and following the rules," said Good Neighbor Vet spokeswoman Jess Esperanza, who noted that people most often don't pay for licensing, vaccinations, or microchipping because they see the fees as unnecessary taxes. "(The free clinics) get more people to do the right thing, and then we can explain where the money goes and why it's necessary.

"It all comes down to compliance," she said.

Good Neighbor Vet typically charges for its mobile pet care services and operates on scheduled dates through partnerships with various local businesses and veterinarian facilities.

However, it does offer another free clinic every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Multnomah County Animal Services facility at 1700 W. Historic Columbia River Highway in Troutdale.

For more information on the free Clackamas County clinic, visit the county dog services website. For Good Neighbor Vet’s schedule and pricing information, visit the Good Neighbor Vet website.

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