Microchip Scanner Program

Microchip Scanner Program: Helping Lost Pets Get Home Faster
Tulsa Animal Services and the Tulsa Fire Department have partnered to launch a new microchip scanner program designed to reunite lost pets with their families more quickly. Through a Best Friends Animal Society grant, every Tulsa Fire Station is now equipped with a handheld pet microchip scanner.

This initiative helps keep animals in their neighborhoods. It reduces unnecessary shelter intake, especially during high-risk times like the Fourth of July, when the number of stray pets traditionally spikes. If you find a lost dog or cat, fire crews have been trained to assist with scanning, helping identify pets, and getting them back home faster.

How to Scan for a Microchip
Each station is equipped with a universal microchip scanner. The process is simple:

1. Press the red circle button in the middle of the scanner to turn it on. Press the same button again to begin scanning. The screen will display “Reading.”
2. Begin scanning at the base of the skull and move the scanner slowly down the spine in an S-shaped motion to the base of the tail.
3. If no chip is detected on the back of the animal, scan both sides of the body using the same method. Microchips can migrate under the skin.
4. If a microchip is found, the scanner will beep, and a 12–15-digit microchip number will appear on the screen.

What To Do After Scanning
If a microchip is not found:

The finder should contact Tulsa Animal Services at 918-855-9841 to schedule an appointment to bring the animal to the shelter.

If a microchip is found:

1. Visit www.PetMicrochipLookup.org to determine which company registered the chip.
2. File a found pet report with the chip company listed.
3. Send an email to microchip@cityoftulsa.org that includes:

• The microchip number
• The location where the animal was found
• Your name and phone number
• Any identifying information (rabies tags, license tags, etc.)

Tulsa Animal Services may be able to help notify the pet’s owner if additional contact information is available.