Community clinic reaches 1,000 microchips
A Windsor non-profit veterinary clinic has recorded its 1,000th microchip, underscoring growing local uptake of permanent pet identification intended to reunite lost animals with their families. Community Veterinary Clinic–Windsor Essex says the milestone was reached on Wednesday with a four-month-old tabby named Diego.
The clinic, which opened in September 2025 with a stated aim of improving access to basic veterinary care, offers walk-in microchipping on a set weekday schedule for a $25 fee per animal. A round-the-clock microchip scanning station is also available outside the site on Holden Avenue, just off McDougall Street in Windsor.
“That care includes offering microchips, a tiny transponder that provides pets with lifetime identification,” said clinic co-founder Melanie Coulter. “This permanent identification can help get pets safely home to their families if they are ever lost.”
Evidence supports permanent ID
Research shared in the Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health in 2023 found that animals with microchips had significantly better chances of being reunited with owners compared to those without. According to the study cited by the clinic, the odds of a safe return were 5.5 times higher for cats and 2.3 times higher for dogs when microchipped.
Microchips are small transponders implanted under the skin that store a unique identification number. When a lost pet is found, a compatible scanner can read the number and link it to registered owner contact details through a database maintained by a microchip provider. The clinic’s 24-hour scanning station adds a local option to check found animals outside typical business hours.
How and when Windsor pet owners can access the service
The clinic provides the microchipping procedure on a walk-in basis during the same weekday window each week.
| Service | Days | Hours | Cost | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pet microchipping (walk-in) | Monday–Thursday | 3 p.m.–5 p.m. | $25 per animal | Holden Ave., off McDougall St., Windsor |
| Microchip scanning station | Daily | 24 hours | No charge to scan | Outside the clinic |
Staff recommend bringing pets in a secure carrier or on a leash for the brief procedure. Owners should also be prepared to provide accurate contact information to register the microchip number so the identification can be used if a pet is found.
Why it matters for Windsor-Essex
The clinic’s milestone points to a growing emphasis on prevention and identification across Windsor-Essex. Local animal welfare groups have long encouraged microchipping as a practical step that helps shelters, veterinarians and community finders quickly trace ownership when pets go missing. The combination of an accessible price point, predictable hours and a 24/7 scanning option lowers barriers for households that might otherwise postpone or forgo permanent identification.
While collars and tags can break, be removed or wear down, microchips are designed to remain with the animal for life once implanted and registered. That permanence can shorten the time an animal spends in a shelter and reduce stress on both pets and owners when separations occur.
Key details for residents
- Milestone: 1,000th pet microchipped at Community Veterinary Clinic–Windsor Essex; the animal was a four-month-old cat named Diego.
- Availability: Walk-in microchipping Monday to Thursday, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the clinic on Holden Avenue, off McDougall Street.
- Cost: $25 per animal; a 24-hour microchip scanning station is accessible outside the clinic.
- Evidence: 2023 study indicates markedly higher odds of reunification for microchipped pets—5.5 times for cats and 2.3 times for dogs.
Residents considering the service can attend during posted hours. The clinic states the objective is to make essential veterinary support, including permanent identification, easier to obtain for pet owners in Windsor-Essex.
