Kiosk to help reunite pets, owners

Elgin installs first chip reader for public use, animal control relief

Lost pets in Elgin now have a faster path home with the installation of the city’s first pet scanning station, a self-service kiosk that allows residents to scan found animals for microchips.

The Elgin Animal Control Division and the Elgin Police Department installed the kiosk at Veterans Memorial Park in the 200 block of Depot Street, directly across from the police station. As of last week, the station is fully operational and available to the public, with additional signage expected to be added soon for more visibility, according to the department.

“This service helps prevent animals from going hungry or being in danger on the roads,” said Aaron Crim, commander of the operations division.

City officials said the station is designed to keep officers available for emergency calls while giving residents an immediate way to help lost animals and reduce the risks of pets being left stranded.

The idea for the scanning station originated with community member Dawn Nelson, who brought the concept to Police Chief Chris Noble after seeing similar stations in other cities across Texas. Crim said the chief agreed the station would benefit both officers and residents and assigned him to come up with a plan to develop one for the city.

“By allowing pets to be scanned for microchips, the station enables quick returns and improves the efficiency of animal control officers — who are not always on duty,” Crim said.

Crim said the station represents a proactive approach to animal safety, citing a recent New Year’s day incident when two abandoned dogs were found at the police station. The dogs were scanned and found to be microchipped, which led to a successful reunion with their owners.

“This incident illustrates the importance of having a pet scanning station for immediate assistance in lost or abandoned situations,” Crim said. “It highlights the critical need for pet microchipping to increase the chances of reunification.”

When a microchip is detected at the station, users can use the AAHA Universal Microchip Lookup, a database of owner contact information, to help locate the pet’s owner.

Animals that can’t be identified are taken to the Bastrop County Animal Shelter. As of 2026, the department has recorded six impounds, including two kittens and four dogs, none of which were microchipped.

“We want the public to understand the role they can play in safely reuniting animals with their owners,” Crim said.

If no chip is found, residents are urged not to abandon the animal, but call the city’s non-emergency dispatch line at 512-3037000 for help.