From boxers to kelpies, terriers to poodles and many felines in between, the road from Cloncurry to Mount Isa was lined with dogs and cats. Why you ask? For the chance to be permanently identifiable that to National Pet Register’s mascot – Reggie the Winnebago!

It began with a chilly morning in Cloncurry – a township that has seen many passers-by, including the ill-fated explorers Burke and Wills just over 150 years ago. Luckily for the National Pet Register team there was Pauls’ famous coffee to keep everyone going all day long – as well as the motivation to see more dogs and cats identified.

There were a few early arrivals so the NPR team got straight down to business – ensuring companion animals had the best chance of returning home, should they become lost.

It was a successful first day, with 48 dogs and two cats permanently identified with a microchip!

After the event, the team headed to Mount Isa and made it just in in time to catch the local fireworks display – perhaps in honour of Reggie’s arrival?

The fanfare didn’t stop there. The next morning the team were met with a flurry of people awaiting Reggie’s arrival to take up this great offer to have their best four-legged mates’ microchipped! The local council came along to provide registration forms for pet owners, and threw a free BBQ for all those who microchipped their pets.

“The response in Mount Isa was incredible! We had to schedule another day due to the high demand,” said National Pet Register’s Operations Manager, Melaine.

Once again, the next day saw many more locals take advantage of the National Pet Register team’s visit and the opportunity to have their pet’s microchipped at a reduced cost. In all it was an overwhelming two days where 132 dogs and 30 cats in Mt Isa were microchipped. Further promoting the importance of identification, the Mount Isa City Council even ran a free raffle where the winner won a free year of council registration for their pet.

After these three successful microchipping days, it was time for Reggie to jump off the Burke and Wills track and head a little closer to the Queensland coastline.

“We’ve had a great time meeting so many amazing people. The best part of this tour is knowing that a further 212 dogs and cats now have the best chance possible of being reunited with their owners, should they ever become lost,” said a tired, but very happy Melanie.

All pets that were microchipped also received a free National Pet Register ID tag and were required to be registered with their local council. Visit the National Pet Register website to sign up for your free ID tag.

If you are interested in booking a National Pet Register Microchipping Event in your municipality, contact Melaine Robinson on 03 9321 8729.