Dog Blog Note: Here's a press release from Anchorage Animal Care and Control announcing a cool ad campaign to promote licensing.

Check out AACCC's Facebook page to see the video.

“Let’s See Some ID”

These days, you need ID for just about everything, and that goes for our pets as well! Anchorage Animal Care and Control Center (AACCC) will be launching two public service announcements in partnership with Friends of Pets and local film company, SprocketHeads. The first of the two humorous ads will be unveiled at the Mayor’s Briefing this Wednesday, February 3rd, at 3:30pm, in the Mayor’s Conference Room at City Hall.

In 2009, only 37% of stray animals brought to AACCC were claimed by their owners. Many of the thousands of stray or lost pets that come to AACCC clearly come from homes where they are cared for, trained, and loved. Sadly, most arrive because they have no identification and no way to return them to their owner. Identification and licensing go hand in hand with the protection of our pets. A microchip or tag ensures that pets are returned to their owners if they are lost. A municipal license ensures that the animal will receive medical care if it’s found injured. It also allows AACCC to keep the animal safely with us for a longer period of time before putting that pet up for adoption.

To encourage more people to license and microchip their pets as we launch this new awareness campaign, AACCC and the Alaska SPCA are holding a discounted rabies vaccination and microchip clinic this weekend called “Pet New Year.” It will be held at the Alaska Mill and Feed Warehouse from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 6, 2010.

Rabies vaccinations will be given to for only $5 and microchips will be offered for $30. Microchips will be free for the first 30 spayed or neutered pets. Municipal dog licenses will also be available for purchase. There will be educational booths, giveaways from many pet-related businesses, door prizes and animal demonstrations by groups such as the Anchorage Police Department K-9 Unit, Elmendorf Security K-9 Unit, Alaska Search and Rescue Dogs, and Alaska Dogs Gone Wild.

A municipal license is required for all dogs over the age of four months in the Municipality of Anchorage. Unfortunately, only an estimated 25% of dogs are licensed in the municipality. For cats, identification is required when they are off their own property.

Licenses can be purchased for one, two or three years from the date of purchase. Prices start at $15 for a spayed or neutered pet for one year. Municipal licenses are sold at many veterinary clinics and at AACCC. Applications can also be accessed at www.muni.org/animal and mailed in with payment.