First 24/7 Self-Service Pet Microchip Station Debuts in Cabarrus County

Cabarrus County residents can now scan stray animals for microchips at any time. A new self-service station sits outside the animal shelter. The Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office Animal Control Division installed the first Pet Microchip Scan Station at 244 Betsy Carpenter Pl SW in Concord.

Anyone who finds a lost pet can scan it for a microchip around the clock. The scanner beeps when it detects a chip. Users then scan a QR code on the sign, which provides instructions on contacting the owner directly.

According to WCNC.com, officials say this station is the first of its kind in the area. Lost pets can get back to their families faster. Fewer animals need to be brought into the shelter.

The self-service technology lets residents reunite pets with owners without stepping inside the facility, cutting down on shelter admissions by offering an option for those who find strays.

Can't care for a found animal while tracking down its owner? Call Emergency Dispatch at 704-920-3000. The animal shelter can be reached at 704-920-3288.

Animal Control is available at 704-920-3292. The station operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Microchips are tiny devices implanted under a pet's skin that store owner contact information. Veterinary offices and shelters have used chip scanners for years, but public access to scanning technology has been scarce until now.

The new station removes barriers for people who find stray animals outside normal business hours, giving them instant access to information that can help return pets to their homes without waiting.