NEW MICROCHIP SCANNING STATIONS AIM TO REUNITE MORE LOST PETS WITH OWNERS IN LAFAYETTE PARISH

Lafayette, LA – The Lafayette Animal Shelter & Care Center (LASCC), in partnership with Friends of the Lafayette Animal Shelter (FLASh), has installed free-to-use, 24/7 pet microchip scanning stations in three locations across Lafayette Parish. The goal: help more lost pets get home faster and reduce the number of animals entering the shelter.

The self-service scanners are now available in the following public parking lots:

• Lafayette Animal Shelter & Care Center: 410 N. Dugas Rd., Lafayette, LA 70507
• Lafayette Police Department: 900 E. University Ave., Lafayette, LA 70503
• Youngsville Police Department: 311 Lafayette St., Youngsville, LA 70592

Each station includes clear instructions for scanning a found pet’s microchip. These tools provide a critical after-hours option for people who find stray animals, especially when veterinary clinics are closed.

“The effort supports one of our top goals for this year: increasing the number of pets returned to their owners,” said Shelter Manager Shelley Delahoussaye. “In 2024, LASCC took in 3,976 stray animals, but only 228 were reclaimed by their owners—a number that dropped by 77 compared to the year before. We know pets belong with their people, not in kennels. These new scanning stations give families another tool to help make that happen.”

Microchips are a permanent form of identification and one of the most effective ways to reunite lost pets with their families. Unlike tags or collars that can fall off, microchips provide a reliable, scannable link to an owner’s contact information.

In support of this initiative, LASCC is now offering $15 microchips to all Lafayette Parish residents during weekday business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the shelter. Additionally, LASCC will host quarterly Saturday Microchip Clinics to expand access for residents who cannot visit during the week. The first clinic will be held on Saturday, September 6, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at LASCC.

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