Staff Report
HAYS COUNTY — Hill Country Rescue & Recovery has established Texas’ largest public community microchip scanning station network within a single county, completing the first phase of an innovative countywide initiative designed to reunite lost pets with their families before they ever enter the shelter system.
The nonprofit has installed 14 fully operational public microchip scanning stations across Hays County and is working toward a long-term goal of expanding the network to 20 strategically placed stations, according to a news release. The free stations are available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, allowing anyone who finds a lost pet to scan for a microchip and begin the reunification process immediately.
Hill Country Rescue & Recovery has already worked on more than 45 lost dog cases in 2026 alone through its lost pet recovery efforts. The new scanning station network expands that mission by providing residents with a simple, accessible tool to help return lost pets home more quickly.
Unlike traditional handheld scanners that may only be available during business hours, the weather-resistant stations are in accessible community locations throughout Hays County. Each station includes easy-to-follow instructions that guide users through the entire reunification process — from scanning a pet for a microchip to identifying the correct microchip registry and contacting the owner. If no microchip is detected, the signage also provides recommended next steps and local community resources to continue the search for the pet’s family.
The project was developed after recognizing that simply providing access to a scanner is only one part of successful reunification. Clear instructions and readily available resources help community members confidently navigate the process from start to finish.
“Our goal is simple,” said Jennifer Neill, president and founder of Hill Country Rescue & Recovery. “If someone finds a lost pet at 8 p.m. on a Sunday, they shouldn’t have to wait until morning for a shelter or veterinary office to open. Every hour matters when a family is searching for a beloved pet. By making scanners available around the clock, we’re giving our community the tools to reunite pets with their families sooner.”
The network represents Texas’ first public-private partnership of this scale dedicated to building a countywide community microchip scanning network. With support from the Hays County Health Department Animal Division, the Hays County Commissioners Court approved funding to partially fund the program, recognizing the value of proactive, community-based reunification efforts.
Phase One host partners include North Hays County Fire/Rescue, Buda Fire Department, Kyle Fire Department and the program’s flagship location at Fitzhugh Brewing in Dripping Springs.
Hill Country Rescue & Recovery hopes to continue expanding the network through future partnerships in the San Marcos and Wimberley areas. While the organization hopes the stations will reduce unnecessary shelter intakes, it emphasizes that success is measured by one family at a time.
“Helping reunite lost pets with their families is at the heart of everything we do,” Neill said. “We’re under no illusion that this program is going to solve every challenge facing animal welfare. But if this network reduces shelter intake by even 5%, that’s a win and if these stations help get even a handful of lost pets safely off our streets before they’re struck by a vehicle, that’s an even bigger win. Every pet reunited with its family before entering a shelter represents a positive outcome — for the pet, the family and our community.”
Residents are reminded that the safety of both the finder and the pet should always come first, the release continued. The scanning stations should only be used when it is safe to transport or handle a found pet.
For station locations or find additional information on the nonprofit, visit its website at www.hillcountryrescuerecovery.org or follow Hill Country Rescue & Recovery on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hillcountryrescuerecovery.
