Microchips

Orange County Animal Services is excited to announce that pet microchip scanning stations are being established at a variety of locations in Orange County, North Carolina. These scanning stations were made possible by our friends at Cat Tales Cat Cafe in Chapel Hill. They can be used to check for a microchip when you find a lost pet, and they can also be used to check your own pet's chip and make sure your contact information is still up to date with the microchip registry in the event your pet ever becomes lost. Please also keep in mind that most veterinary clinics and animal shelters can help you scan a pet for a microchip if needed.

SCANNING STATION LOCATIONS:

  • 6800 Orange Grove Rd, Hillsborough, NC (Orange Grove Fire Department - the scanner is on the right side of the main building, up against the brick wall) 
  • 352 College Park Rd.  Hillsborough, NC (Orange Rural Fire Department and Orange County EMS - scanner is located in the back of the building, in the parking lot island, on the end closest to the driveway)
  • 301 West Main St. Carrboro, NC (Carrboro Fire Dept - scanner is located on the front left corner of building facing the road, it is between the firehouse and the Carrboro Town Hall building. It may be easier to access from the Town Hall parking lot)
  • 3800 US 70 West Efland, NC (EMS Station 4 - scanner is located on the left of the driveway, behind the parking spaces, under the large light post)



TO SCAN FOR A MICROCHIP: 

  • Start by moving the scanner slowly between the pet's shoulder blades, going side-to-side in an "S" shaped pattern.
  • If no chip is detected, rotate the scanner 90 degrees and scan again between the pet's shoulder blades.
  • Then, start at the pet's head, and slowly scan side-to-side all the way to the pet's tail, making several passes over each area. 
  • IT MAY TAKE UP TO 2 MINUTES TO DETECT A PET'S MICROCHIP. The scanner should be held close to the pet, either touching or within an inch. Be thorough and patient, as microchips can sometimes migrate and pets are often wiggly. 
  • If you find a chip, go to www.petmicrochiplookup.com to enter the chip number. Contact any companies listed in the results and work with them to notify a pet's owner that the pet has been found. 

A cat and a dog being scanned for a microchip

If no microchip can be found, visit this page for more information about helping lost/found pets. 

WHAT IS A MICROCHIP?

A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and contains a unique number used to identify animals when scanned. It is inserted with a needle, similar to your pet getting a vaccine.

WHY MICROCHIP?

Microchipping greatly increases the chances of your pet making it home safely and quickly. When pets lose collars or ID tags, the microchip is still there to provide information!

Talk to your veterinarian about getting your pet microchipped. Also, Orange County Animal Services typically offers microchips at their low-cost rabies vaccination clinics .