Byram Girl Scout Angela Gargano assists pet micro-chipping clinic

NEWTON - Angela Gargano, a Byram Girl Scout, joined forces with Newton Veterinary Hospital, BARKS and Schering-Plough Animal Health Corporation, and conducted a Low Cost Pet-Micro-chipping Clinic on Saturday, Oct. 7, at Newton Veterinary Hospital, to obtain the Girl Scout Gold Award. The Gold Award is the highest award in Girl Scouting. Gargano began her scouting career as a Daisy in the Byram Girl Scouts over 11 years ago. The high school junior enlisted the help of Newton Veterinary Doctors, BARKS and Schering Plough, the makers of Home Again Pet Micro-chips, to make her project a reality. Gargano’s goal was to make pet owners aware of the benefits of pet micro-chipping, and to conduct a clinic that would count on volunteers to help keep down the cost of chipping animals in the surrounding counties. She spent many hours making handmade signs that advertised the event. The signs were posted in the tri-county area of Sussex, Warren, and Morris, and various news articles were written to advertise the clinic. Gargano was guided by three advisors, Sheryl Thole, President of BARKS, Karen Loree, Manager of Newton Veterinary Hospital, and her mom, who is her Girl Scout Leader. Gargano reports that the clinic was a success, and that over 35 animals were chipped. Gargano also held a pet food drive and collected two huge boxes of dog and cat food which was given to BARKS. Micro-chipping is a safe and permanent pet I.D. and recovery system. A micro-chip is the size of a grain of rice and is implanted between the shoulder blades of a pet. If a pet becomes lost, it can be identified with the use of a hand-held scanner used in shelters and vet offices. The micro-chip links a pet to the recovery system and the pet owner immediately. Micro-chipping is not harmful to pets. The Byram Girl Scout also created a short power point presentation on micro-chipping that included a live demonstration of a dog being chipped at Newton Veterinary Hospital.