A microchip clinic is being offered at the VCA Island Animal Hospital on Nanaimo's Bowen Rd. on Sunday, Sept. 7 from noon until 3 p.m., for the price of a donation to the Nanaimo and District SPCA. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW.com)

By Jordan Davidson

find lost pets

By-donation microchip clinic in Nanaimo helps bring lost pets home

Sep 5, 2025 | 4:08 PM

NANAIMO — Mid-Island animal-lovers have a chance to get their furry friend microchipped for the low price of a donation to charity.

The Nanaimo and District SPCA, together with VCA Island Animal Hospital (VCAIAH), are hosting a microchip clinic on Sunday, Sept. 7, from noon until 3 p.m.

Veterinarian and medical director at VCAIAH Dr. Jamie Wintemute said microchips for dogs, cats, and rabbits are easy and effective ways to locate a lost animal.

“If your animal does get lost, misplaced, stolen, anyway of them being not in your care, they are then able to get back to you. If they get found, they can be brought into any clinic, any shelter, I believe it’s actually all within North America….it’s a very great, very safe, convenient way to get a pet back to their parents.”

The event will be held at the VCAIAH location at 1800 Bowen Rd. in Nanaimo, with food trucks, raffle prizes, clinic tours, and other family-friendly activities on hand.

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Veterinarians like Wintemute, along with vet staff and members of the Nanaimo SPCA, are volunteering their time to provide this important service.

Donations made for the microchips go back into the local SPCA programs, helping pets find their forever homes.

Wintemute told NanaimoNewsNOW she strongly recommends microchips for all pets who can get them, with the microchips about the size of a grain of rice and easy to put into place.

“Even those indoor kitties, just because you never know, you open that door and they can escape and they would be the ones that would be scared and would run. It’s very safe to get done. It’s essentially pain-free for the animal.”

She expects a large turnout to this event, something she said hasn’t been done locally for several years.

Pre-registering for the event is recommended and can be done by calling the Nanaimo and District SPCA branch at 250-741-0778 or by email at nanaimo@spca.bc.ca.

A pet microchip, which is about the size of a grain of rice, is placed under the skin between the shoulder blades of an animal and is often a painless procedure. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW.com)

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