by Stacy Wiedmaier
Landmark reporter
Northern Platte County residents now have a new tool that can help them reunite lost pets with their families sooner.
Because Platte County does not have an animal shelter, residents have limited options to scan a pet’s microchip, with private veterinary facilities often closed at night and on weekends. Platte City previously had a formal contract for this service with Jackson Animal Clinic, but that expired in fall 2022 when the clinic was sold to a new veterinarian.
Platte City Mayor Amber Brune and Platte County Recorder of Deeds Chris Wright joined forces to install a pet microchip scanning station outside City Hall that is free and accessible to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“We both agreed it’s an issue we’d like to help address,” Brune said. “Chris mentioned a community he had visited that installed a public pet microchip scanner station. We immediately decided it would be a practical first step and a valuable resource.”
The cost of the scanning station was split between Brune and Wright. No city funds were used for the project. Brune said she was unsure whether there is a way to determine how often the scanner is used.
Platte City Police Sgt. Mike Mand said he does not believe lost or stray animals are an “ongoing problem” in the city, but officers do receive occasional calls about loose dogs, more often than cats. The Platte City Police Department purchased a mobile pet microchip scanner when the contract ended with Jackson Animal Clinic. The scanner allows officers to bring the device with them on animal-related service calls.
“A lot of times, people place notices of lost pets on social media platforms and try to locate the owners that way,” Mand said. “We only use our mobile scanner for dogs once every few months.”
The Landmark reviewed Platte City Police Department dispatch call logs for the two-week period of July 24 to Aug. 6 and there were six calls dispatched for loose pets.
While the police department may already be using its own scanner, Brune said it’s important the public has access to an additional one.
“It can help reduce non-emergency calls to the police department related to lost pets, while still allowing officers to direct residents to the City Hall scanner when appropriate,” she said. “This improves convenience for residents and helps officers remain available for higher-priority public safety responsibilities.”
