At our recent free microchip clinic in Paterson, New Jersey, Veterinarian Tracy Cohen-Grady microchipped dogs and cats:(She) administered the injections with assistance from a team of technicians. The chip is quickly inserted in the nape of the pet's neck with a needle similar to those used for vaccination shots without local anesthetic or rendering the pet unconscious. But why? "Animals can escape from a house or car when they don't have collars on, or collars can come off," Cohen-Grady told NorthJersey.com. And she's right: Even responsible pet owners can lose a dog or cat. (If you do lose a pet, find out what to do first here.) Microchipping your pet is an easy and affordable way to safeguard against losing your pet for good. Each microchip contains a unique ID number. If your lost pet is found, a vet can scan the chip and notify the person to which that pet is registered. Since NJ STRAYS works to reduce shelter intake for a No-Kill New Jersey, we advocate for protective microchip measures. If an animal shelter can identify your dog or cat and contact you, it ideally won't resort to drastic measures - such as euthanasia - to deal with overcrowding. Like NJ STRAYS on Facebook to find out when and where our next free or low-cost microchip clinic will take place. And check out our gallery, below, to see how pet owners are able to help their dogs and cats be safe through microchipping.