Protect horses with microchip

The Los Angeles County Equine Microchip Project is a pilot program to assist horse owners to identify and better protect their animals in wildfire and other emergency situations.

The program was developed at the request of Board of Supervisors chair Zev Yaroslavsky in conjunction with the county Department of Animal Care and Control.

Due to the constant threat of wildfires, equestrian owners in the Santa Monica Mountains have long recognized the need to permanently identify their horses.

Partnering with Stephanie Abronson of ETI Corral 36, the county has donated more than 200 microchips for horse owners who have signed up to be part of this pilot project. The only charge to the owners will be a lifetime registration fee of $6.

The microchip affords permanent identification for horses, providing an identification number that cannot be altered.

Microchips offer horse owners additional benefits beyond proof of ownership, including theft prevention, disaster recovery, protection from slaughter and the ability to track veterinary records.

In an emergency, nonchipped horses typically take longer to be reunited with their owners and in some cases are never returned. When a microchip is found in a horse, the horse is only a phone call away from being reunited with the owner.

Those interested in participating may call Abronson at (818) 222-1605, or e-mail Stephanie @abronson.com.