Judging by her antics at a press conference today, Missy the 10-month-old German Shepherd pup hasn't learned what 11 city councillors certainly know — that Hazel McCallion's bark is worse, even, than her considerable bite.
McCallion and her new four-legged best friend were at the Mississauga Animal Services shelter on Central Pkwy. W. this morning (Friday) to promote the value of microchipping pets as a means of permanent identification.
While she bantered with Animal Services staff and the press, McCallion spoke wistfully of her longtime canine companion Hurricane, who died last fall.
Hurricane's death hit the family hard. So at Christmas time, McCallion's daughter, Linda, gifted her Missy.
“Hurricane went the right way, we didn't have to put her down,” McCallion said. “Everybody misses her. This (Missy)is a great dog, but I don't think she'll ever replace Hurricane. Hurricane was quite the thing.”
The staff at Mississauga Animal Services asked McCallion and her high-profile pooch to lend a hand paw, if you will — to remind pet owners to microchip and register their pets as a means of protecting them from harm's way.
Sheena Rodda, acting supervisor at the Animal Services, explained if a pet is sprayed or neutered and has a microchip it becomes eligible for a one-time lifetime license.
Rodda said a data chip about the size of a grain of rice is inserted under the skin between your pet's shoulder blades. The microchip contains the owner's information.
“Our goal is to reunite lost pets with their owners as quickly as possible,” said Rodda.
The cost to have a microchip implanted in an animal is $60.
Missy was microchipped recently.
For more information email to pet.licence@mississauga.ca or call 905-896-5861.
rpanjwani@mississauga.net
