Anyone who’s ever found a lost pet now has convenient options for reuniting them with their owners.
Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter has rolled out microchip reader stations in front of businesses in Round Rock. The readers allow data on identification chips implanted in pets to be downloaded upon a quick scan.
The animal shelter initially set up a station outside its Services Center in Georgetown. However, a donor last year provided funding for up to eight “Reunion Stations,” as they’re called. The donor requested they each be placed within Round Rock.
Reunion Stations have since been placed at Round Rock Yoga, 106 S. Mays St., and Austin Pets Alive! thrift store, 913 N. Interstate 35.
The chip readers are housed within metal stands, formerly used as newspaper racks. When accessed, the readers provide a nine- to 15-digit number registered to the pet’s owner. They can then be contacted through the manufacturer of the chip or directly, depending on information on file.
Business owners need only occasionally check the Stations to ensure the chip reader batteries are operational, said April Peiffer, Williamson County Regional Animal shelter community engagement coordinator.
“Maybe a wipe down now and again… other than that, they’re totally hands-off,” said Peiffer. “We’re so excited to get this project officially launched!”
Austin Pets Alive has been looking to provide chip readers outside all its thrift stores, but Williamson County beat Travis County to the punch, said Derrick Ernst, Austin Pets Alive director of retail operations. Austin Pets Alive maintains three Austin thrift store locations and a Pflugerville store in addition to the Round Rock location.
“Being animal-related, people come in [the thrift stores] and say, ‘I found this lost pet,’” Ernst said. “They see ‘Austin Pets Alive’ and they think we’re a shelter. We’re not a shelter but we will support any way we can with things like this. This is amazing. That is all about what we do: we rehome.”
The readers can also be used by pet owners to see if the chips inside their dogs or cats are still working, said Zelinda Yañez of Round Rock Yoga. Yañez, who has volunteered at the Williamson County shelter, said she has seen newly installed chips work their way out of pets’ skin.
“It’s probably a good idea to check chips every now and then,” she added.
Reunion Stations will be placed outdoors, so they are publicly accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Additional Stations are available. Contact the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter for more information on obtaining a Reunion Station for your business or organization at 512-943-3322 or wcras@wilco.org.
