The animal shelter has installed a 24/7 pet microchip scanning station outside of its location at 921 Deputy Jeff G. Watson Drive in Luling to help reunite lost pets with their owners.
Each year, the shelter takes in about 1,200 pets. Now, residents can use the self-service station to find a lost, healthy pet’s owner without having to bring the pet into the shelter for admission, intake and processing.
Animal Shelter Supervisor Jena Troxler said most lost pets are found within a few blocks of their home.
“So, if we can help reunite pets and owners, this station will be an asset to the community,” she said.
Troxler said the scanner is easy to use. If a resident finds a stray pet, they can bring the pet to the scanning station, open the waterproof box, take the scanner, turn it on by pressing the blue button, and then running the scanner down the pet’s back.
If the pet has a microchip, the scanner will display the chip number, which can be input into the online database. Residents can access the database by scanning the QR code on the sign at the chip reader station. If the chip is registered and up to date, the chip database will share the finder’s contact information with the owner so the pet and owner can be reunited.
Troxler said that finders of pets are responsible for holding the lost pet until it can be given to its owner or until the animal shelter opens for proper intake.
“Individuals who leave animals outside the shelter will be cited for abandonment charges,” she said.
Turning Rescues Into Pets, a nonprofit that provides support for homeless pets, raised funds and donated the $100 in parts to the shelter for the scanning station.
Troxler said the Lafourche Parish Animal Shelter recently installed a pet microchip station and shared information about their system with the animal shelter. The parish’s public information office made the signage to show residents how to work the scanner.
“This was a relatively small investment that we hope has a lasting impact on our community,” Troxler said.
Pet microchips are only effective if the owner’s information is up to date. Through the microchip’s registry at aaha.org, pet owners can find contact information for the manufacturer of their pet’s microchip and can call to update personal information.
Troxler said some pet owners may want to use the pet scanning station at the shelter to record the microchip number for their records and ensure it is registered with the corresponding company.
All pets adopted from the shelter are microchipped and have full medical care as part of the $80 adoption fee, Troxler said.
She said the shelter automatically registers the microchip with the microchip company to include the owner’s name, address, and phone number when the pet is adopted. There is no membership fee with the company, 24 Hour Petwatch. The pet is registered for life, but the owner must update the information on the chip if they move, rehome the pet, or change phone numbers.
Pet owners needing a microchip can go to a veterinary clinic, where a veterinarian will implant the microchip. Local vet fees for implant and registration are usually about $55.
Troxler said the shelter will provide free microchip services for residents to prepare for hurricane season on National Check the Chip Day, which is August 15.
“We secured a grant to check chips, assist owners in registering their chips, and place chips in pets who don’t already have one, while supplies last,” she said.
