Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Animal Services Reunification topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Animal Services highlights Petco 'Love Lost' program, says microchip scanning and QR signs have reunited pets
Summary
The council heard a presentation from Animal Services on a Petco 'Love Lost' pilot that uses QR-code signs, scanner kits and social-platform scanning to reunite lost pets; staff said the program is free to the city and has already produced reunions.
Councilwoman Butler presented a community initiative from Animal Services and the city's animal advisory committee to expand use of the Petco Love Lost QR signs and scanner kits in high-intake neighborhoods.
Mark Sloat, director of Animal Services, told council the program uses a QR code on signs to link to a national Lost & Found pet listing (Petco Love Lost). The system also scans public posts on Nextdoor and Ring Neighbors to connect finders with posted lost-pet reports. Sloat said the program does not yet integrate with Facebook and that the city was selected as one of 13 sites to receive scanner kits.
Sloat described a recent reunion: an elderly miniature dachshund was reunited with its owner after a local volunteer saw a sign, a neighbor used the QR code and the system matched the found dog to a nearby posted report. He said the pilot will place four scanner kits in high-intake areas and run the program as a tracked pilot through September.
Sloat provided a historical context for the effort: between 2018 and 2022, Victoria County Animal Services impounded 7,610 dogs; of those, 3,674 were euthanized, "mostly for no reason other than space," he said. He emphasized the program is free to the city and intended to reduce shelter intake by improving reunification.
Regarding response protocols, Sloat told council that Animal Services responds to priority calls on weekends (injured animals, bites) but does not routinely pick up stray animals on weekends unless the call rises to priority. Callers seeking immediate assistance were advised to call police nonemergency lines or the county sheriff where applicable; officers and Animal Services coordinate as needed.
Sloat said the city will track use with a dashboard and heat map that already shows high-intake neighborhoods (he cited local neighborhoods by name), and that the city hopes to put signs at schools and parks with permission. Council thanked staff and asked for a fall update on program metrics.
No formal action was required or taken; staff said they would return in the fall with data on program performance.
