For Immediate Release

Rockville, Maryland - It's Adopt-a-Dog Month! Adopt your next furry companion from the Montgomery County Humane Society this month and your pet, whether canine or feline, will receive a free microchip. Microchipping is a key tool to help reunite lost pets with their owners.

"MCHS wants all lost animals to return home," said Cris Bombaugh, CEO and president. "Pet caregivers can save now on this important service -- it's a wonderful gift of peace of mind for both you and your pet."

This is an ideal time of year to take steps to ensure your pets have proper identification, while the American Humane Association, a national organization, sponsors Adopt-A-Dog Month. "The combination of ID tags and microchipping means you know they're protected if they ever become lost," Bombaugh said.

When you adopt a shelter pet, adoption fees vary depending on whether the animal has already received specified services. These include microchipping, which normally costs $25 for implant and registration; a rabies shot; flea treatment; temporary ID tag; and mandatory purchase of a spay/neuter coupon.

The same benefits of having a dog in your family also apply to other pets. Adopting a pet brings you companionship, improved physical and emotional health, social interaction and lifelong love. Pets encourage people to exercise, enhance family and social relationships, promote laughter and act as a nonjudgmental audience and sounding board.

For details about how to adopt an animal into your family, please visit www.mchumane.org. For more information on microchipping and other important identification tools, see http://www.mchumane.org/preventionisthebeststrategy.shtml.

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About the Montgomery County Humane Society:

The Montgomery County Humane Society in Rockville, MD, is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that has provided animal sheltering services for Montgomery County since 1958. MCHS receives funds to operate the Montgomery County Animal Shelter under a grant from the Montgomery County Government and from private donations. As the only full-service animal shelter in the county, MCHS handled more than 9,200 animals in 2008, and, as an open admission shelter, never turns an animal away. Visit www.mchumane.org to learn more, or call 240.773.5960 option 2. Hours to visit with the animals are weekdays, noon-7 p.m., and weekends, noon-5 p.m.; closed Wednesdays.

Founded in 1877, the American Humane Association is the only national organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Through a network of child and animal protection agencies and individuals, American Humane develops policies, legislation, curricula and training programs to protect children and animals from abuse, neglect and exploitation. The nonprofit organization, headquartered in Denver, raises awareness about The Link® between violence to people and violence to animals, as well as the benefits derived from the human-animal bond. American Humane's Los Angeles office is the authority behind the "No Animals Were Harmed"® end-credit disclaimer on film and TV productions. Visit www.americanhumane.org to learn more.