Tarentum animal rescue installs 24/7 microchip reader for lost pets

The public now can identify microchipped pets any time of the day with a new device installed by Tarentum-based animal rescue Paws Across Pittsburgh.

The microchip scanner, located in front of the nonprofit’s rescue house at 413 E. Sixth Ave., allows users to inspect lost animals with on-site instructions.

The wand-like device will beep and display an animal ID number once a chip is detected, directing users to an online database with contact information for pet owners.

Jackie Armour, president of Paws Across Pittsburgh, said veterinarians and police often have chip scanners, but the public device will allow easy access at any hour.

“It’ll save the police some time, and it’ll help keep dogs out of the local shelters,” she said.

Recently, Armour said, her organization had received numerous calls about scanning lost pets after standard business hours. Though not all animals are microchipped, Armour said each pet that comes through their rescue gets chipped, which she said is also a common practice among other rescues.

Linda Newbrough, general manager at River Valley Veterinary Hospital in Springdale, said a scanner that’s available after hours is an excellent idea.

It’s generally easy to scan an animal for a chip, typically found between a pet’s shoulders, she said.

“They’re an excellent tool for reuniting pets with owners,” Newbrough said.

For Newbrough, the more scanners there are to examine pets, the better.

Tarentum Police Sgt. Kurt Jendrejewski said calls about lost animals are common at the department. About half of the animals he has encountered have chips, though some chips don’t contain any owner’s information.

Still, he said he expects Paws Across Pittsburgh’s scanner to lift some burden off the police and provide an easy way for owners to reconnect with their pets.

“I think it’s beneficial for everybody,” he said.

Paws Across Pittsburgh is located near the corner of East Sixth Avenue and Corbet Street, near Fox’s Pizza Den.

The scanner setup at Tarentum might only be the first of several.

Armour said Paws Across Pittsburgh is working to install around a half-dozen more 24/7 scanner sites over the next several months throughout the Pittsburgh region in areas with the greatest need.