MURPHYSBORO, Ill (WSIL) -- A large influx of lost pets, has local animal shelters encouraging pet owners to microchip their animals.
Microchipping is a process where a small needle inserts a tiny chip into the shoulder of a dog or cat, allowing vets and shelters to identify the owner of the pet.
The process is similar to getting a shot, and the chip doesn't bother the animal.
Shelter workers say without microchipping, it's nearly impossible to find lost pets.
"We have so many animals that come in here every year and if even half of them were microchipped we could reunite them with their owners," said Rachel Lee, the Humane Society of Southern Illinois's Assistant Manager.
"A lot of times, people's pets go missing, someone picks up the pet, drives a hundred miles, and then takes them to the shelter, there's no other way for an owner to be reunited with their pet unless somebody scans that animal for a microchip," Lee added.
If you do get your pet microchipped, remember to register the chip.
Pets adopted through the Southern Illinois Humane Society are already registered.
