Do your pets have passports? Published May 5, 2008 By Michael Fletcher 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE -- Permanent Change of Station out-processing may mean planning for the future of a pet. If the PCS is to an overseas assignment, your pet is treated like a member of the family and a pet passport may be in order. "If you have pets, you should have them microchipped with an identification chip," said Michelle Aguilar, Altus Air Force Base Veterinarian Office. "This will soon be the standard for pet identification and many countries require it, some military bases, as well as the state of Hawaii. Most countries require two rabies vaccines after the microchip is implanted." The Altus AFB vet office has information and sources for the simple procedure of inserting the microchip just beneath the outer layers of skin, as well as country-by-country requirements. "As soon as you are aware of a future overseas PCS, see me," Ms. Aguilar said. "It's safe to say that the sooner the pet meets the microchip, two rabies vaccinations and rabies serology test (FAVN) requirements are met, the shorter the quarantine period." "You take on a commitment when you have a pet, especially for their health," said Dr. (retired Col.) Mike McGuire, doctor of veterinary medicine at the Altus AFB office. "I encourage moving with family pets as studies show that children cope much better with moving to a new location if they have a family pet - a friend that is non-judgmental." Yet not all families can continue to provide for pets. The vet office has local information for these situations. "It is an Oklahoma state felony to abandon animals," Doctor McGuire said. "Pets are completely dependent on care from their masters and cannot survive on their own." The best option is to advertise and find a responsible home for a pet, he added. If that doesn't work then a pet may be taken to a local humane society in Altus, Lawton, or Vernon, Texas. "Altus Animal Aid is a 'no kill' facility," said Dorothy Harper of Animal Aid. "The animal is kept in the facility until it is adopted." Animal Aid is at 2200 Enterprise Drive in Altus. Office hours are Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - noon and 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday hours are from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Animal Aid also has animals available for adoption for the cost of immunizations and neutering or spaying. Call the facility at 477-0807. The Altus AFB Veterinarian Office, Bldg. 48, is open Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. Dr. McGuire is at the office on Wednesdays. Call 481-5221 for more information.