LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — With a $5,000 boost from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), Kalamazoo County is on a mission to enhance the likelihood of reuniting lost pets with their owners. 

This funding has enabled the county to distribute microchip scanners to local law enforcement agencies and provide free microchips to the public, thereby streamlining the process of identifying and returning lost pets.

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According to Kalamazoo County, the grant has facilitated the distribution of eight microchip scanners to various local law enforcement agencies, including the City of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Township, the City of Portage, the Village of Vicksburg, the Village of Richland, and the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office. These scanners will allow officers to identify and reunite lost pets with their owners, effectively cutting down on the time pets spend away from their families.

Available on a “first-come, first-served basis,” the county is also providing 625 microchips to residents. 

Chad Ensign, Director of Kalamazoo County Animal Services & Enforcement (KCASE), vocalized his support for this initiative: “With the rising number of animals entering our facilities over the past couple of years, this grant significantly boosts our community’s resources.”

The grants provided by the Animal Welfare Fund, under MDARD’s management, help finance a variety of animal welfare projects, including training for animal control officers, spay/neuter programs, and the provision of microchip scanners and microchips. 

This year, MDARD distributed $150,000 to 22 animal shelters in Michigan to support these and other initiatives, according to the ​Oakland County Times.