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Animal Services unveils first 24/7 microchip scanner station to reunite lost pets
Summary
Madera County Animal Services presented a weatherproof microchip scanner station to be installed at the Madera Animal Shelter, allowing residents to scan stray animals after hours and help reunite pets with owners.
Madera County Animal Services briefed the Board of Supervisors on Sept. 23 about a new 24‑hour microchip scanner station the department plans to place at the Madera Animal Shelter and eventually deploy at other locations.
Amy Toler, representing Madera County Animal Services, said the scanner station—built in‑house by Officer Shane Gray—lets residents scan a found dog or cat at night and retrieve the microchip ID number and owner contact information without waiting for shelter or veterinarian business hours. "This is our first one, so we're hoping to get this throughout Madera County," she said, noting the approach is rare in California: "There's only two of these in California, one in San Diego County..." The station includes weatherproof housing, QR‑coded instructions and a plaque explaining how to use it.
Why it matters: microchips provide a permanent ID number for animals and can significantly shorten shelter stays and reduce adoption or euthanasia pressure by reconnecting lost pets with owners quickly. Toler said the system helps reduce after‑hours holding and can be sited at fire stations or other public locations.
Next steps: Animal Services will pilot the unit at the Madera Shelter and evaluate options to install additional stations across the county. No board vote or appropriation was required for the informational presentation.
