In an innovative move to combat the problem of lost pets, Kent County Animal Shelter has introduced a 24-hour microchip-scanning station. According to a report from WZZM 13, the scan station is designed to make it easier for to quickly identify and reunite wandering pets with their owners. Located at Kent County North Campus in Cedar Springs, the unit—which Angela Hollinshead, the shelter's director, described as "first-of-its-kind" in Michigan—is equipped to read microchips in pets round the clock and is weatherproofed for durability.
Situating the device outside the shelter was a strategic decision to remove transportation barriers, a major hurdle for northern Kent County residents as mentioned by Hollinshead in an interview with FOX 17. For those who find lost pets, or owners uncertain of their pet's microchip number, the station provides a straightforward solution. “Anybody that has pets can use the station," Hollinshead told WZZM 13. "People who find lost pets can use it to try to reunite pets with their owners."
Aside from the microchip scanner, the Kent County Animal Shelter has also expanded their technological arsenal to streamline pet recovery processes. This includes the addition of QR code dog licenses introduced back in 2022, and donating 20 pet microchip scanners to county law enforcement agencies, details MLive. These initiatives together aim to better the odds of reuniting lost pets with their families—an increasing need given a 200% spike in stray dog intakes since 2019.
Operating the new microchip-scanning unit is a simple affair: Users press “OK” to activate the scanner and then hold the “READ” button while scanning over the pet. The scanner emits a beep and displays a number sequence if a microchip is detected, which users can photograph for reference. Finally, they can lookup the chip number on Pet Microchip Lookup, allowing them to contact the registered owner through the microchip company, as per the procedures outlined on the WZZM 13 and FOX 17 websites.
Amid increasing reports of pets not being reclaimed at the shelter, Hollinshead emphasizes the importance of microchipping and proper pet identification. "So microchipping is great technology, it's pretty painless for the animal," Hollinshead affirmed to WZZM 13. "And what that does is it stays with your pet through their life." Pet owners are also encouraged to keep their contact information updated with the microchip registry to ensure a faster reunion process.
More information on the Kent County Animal Shelter’s services and the benefits of pet microchipping can be accessed on the MLive website.
