The St. Charles Parish Animal Shelter is proud to announce the installation of its new 24/7 Microchip Scanning Station outside the shelter at 921 Deputy Jeff G. Watson Dr. in Luling. This self-service station provides residents with a convenient and effective way to help lost pets reunite with their owners at any time, day or night.

“Our Animal Shelter staff are constantly looking for ways to enhance pet safety and promote responsible pet ownership in St. Charles Parish, and the scanning station can be used by good Samaritans and our law enforcement officers who often step in to assist with lost pets after shelter hours,” Parish President Matthew Jewell said. “This simple tool will be an asset for our community that allows for quicker reunification of lost pets without requiring a visit inside the shelter or waiting for business hours to get pets back to their loved ones.”

Residents who find a stray pet can bring it to the scanning station and scan its back for a microchip. If the pet has a microchip, the scanner will display the chip number, which can be input into the online database. 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.

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.

Residents are encouraged to regularly verify and update their pet’s microchip registration, as microchipping is only effective if the contact information on file is kept current.