Moore County residents can glance at “Moore County Ask a Neighbor” or other social media pages specific to Moore County to see how many lost pets are found by the good citizens of our community. People often turn to social media when they have lost their beloved pet, sharing photos and descriptions of them.
In turn, when animals are found, the finder will post pictures of the location where the animal was found, with the hope that the owner will see the social media post.
Many pets are microchipped, and this form of owner identification has proved vital in reuniting lost pets with their owners.
Most animal shelters offer microchipping when a dog or cat is adopted. Veterinarians also provide the service for owners who want to ensure their beloved pet can be traced back to them if the animal gets lost and is picked up by an individual or animal control.
If you find a dog or cat, the logical first step is to have it scanned for a microchip, which provides the owner’s details. However, there are limitations. If someone finds a dog or cat, they must visit a veterinarian’s office or animal control to scan the animal. This has to be done when the vet’s office is open or during the working hours of animal control. This is problematic for finders and the animals found on weekends or during off-hours of the Moore County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services.
However, a partnership between RADAR Rescue and Moore County realtor Joanne Crum will bring three microchip scanning stations to Moore County for public use. Anyone finding a dog or cat can use the public microchip scanner to find the owner’s name and address.
Joanne is a realtor with Rhodes & Company and a long-time resident of Moore County. As a pet lover, Joanne has supported local pet rescue groups through donations and by hosting adoption events at the Rhodes & Co. Real Estate office in downtown Southern Pines.
Joanne became aware of the need for a microchip scanner in Moore County, especially on weekends when access to microchip scanners is limited. Joanne conducted preliminary research on microchip scanners but was unsure how to proceed with logistics.
Joanne contacted Sarah Monzillo, a board member and foster care coordinator at RADAR Rescue and a volunteer with Moore County’s Pet Responsibility Committee. Joanne proposed installing several microchip stations across Moore County.
As the saying goes, “Timing is everything.”
Sarah had recently spoken with people involved in a similar microchip station project in Hoke County. In October 2024, Ambassadors of Hoke County Animals installed three microchip stations for public use in Hoke County.
Their conversations led to a collaboration between Joanne and RADAR Rescue. Joanne sponsored the cost of purchasing the first three microchip stations installed across Moore County. RADAR Rescue will conduct all monthly maintenance, including changing the batteries needed to power the microchip stations.
“Moore County has a lot of lost and found pets, so there has been a need for quite some time for found pets to be identified and reunited with their owners quickly,” said Joanne.
Sarah Monzillo demonstrates how to use a microchip scanner on a dog or cat./Video contributed.
The first three microchip stations across Moore County will be installed on April 8 at the following locations.
*Burney Hardware – 11865 Highway 15-501, Aberdeen
*Carthage Farm Supply – 3710 U.S. 15-501, Carthage
*Moore Equine Feed & Pet Supply – 1012 N. May Street, Southern Pines
Founder and CEO Fontana DellOlio shared her thoughts on the dog rescue work that RADAR is involved in.
“One of the challenges we face as a rescue is when residents find lost pets and aren’t sure where to turn, so they reach out to us for help,” said Fontana. “We recommend getting them scanned for a microchip as the first step; however, this involves bringing the pet to a veterinary office or shelter for scanning. These stations will cut out the middleman and accelerate the process of getting lost pets home to their families.
When Joanne presented this brilliant idea to us and offered to cover the costs, we immediately recognized it as a perfect fit for our mission.”
Two additional microchip stations are also planned: Burney Hardware in Seven Lakes, sponsored by Good Shepherd Pet Crematory & Cemetery, and one in Robbins.
On April 13, RADAR Rescue will host a day of free microchipping from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Up to 100 dogs and cats will be microchipped for free at Burney Hardware, 270 N. Trade Street, Seven Lakes. The free microchipping day is also sponsored by Good Shepherd Pet Crematory & Cemetery.
Feature photo: A microchip scanning station. Courtesy photo.
~ Written by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Maggie Sergio. A resident of Moore and Richmond counties since 2016, Maggie was one of the first reporters for Sandhills Sentinel. She started covering local stories for Sandhills Sentinel in 2018 and has rejoined the reporting staff. Maggie previously contributed to the Huffington Post, covering social and environmental justice issues. Maggie is an accomplished grant writer, having secured funding for several nonprofit organizations.
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