Finding the owner of a lost pet may now be as simple as a trip to a local fire station in Anne Arundel County.
The Anne Arundel County Fire Department has partnered with Anne Arundel County Animal Services to place universal pet microchip scanners in fire stations throughout the county, providing another way to quickly identify lost pets and reunite them with their families.
Microchip Scanners Available at Fire Stations
Every Anne Arundel County fire station is now equipped with a universal pet microchip scanner. The scanners can read identifying information from microchips implanted in pets, potentially allowing a lost animal’s owner to be located without first taking the animal to a shelter or veterinary office.
The initiative gives firefighters and community members an additional resource when they encounter a lost pet.
The scanners were provided through the generosity of Friends of Anne Arundel County Animals, a nonprofit that supports animals and programs associated with Anne Arundel County Animal Services.
Helping Lost Pets Get Home Faster
Microchips provide permanent identification for pets, but locating a chip requires a scanner. By making scanners available throughout Anne Arundel County’s network of fire stations, residents who find a lost dog, cat or other microchipped pet now have more locations where the animal can be checked.
A successful scan can provide the information needed to identify the pet and begin the process of contacting its family.
The countywide effort is a collaboration between the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Anne Arundel County Animal Services and Friends of Anne Arundel County Animals, with the goal of getting lost pets home safely and more quickly.
