Reunion Stations Roll Out in Round Rock, Helping Lost Pets Return Home

If you find a lost dog or cat, there’s a new place in your community where you can immediately start the search for its owner. The goal is to make the process as immediate and straightforward as possible.

The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter has rolled out a network of bright yellow ‘reunion stations’ to help citizens quickly reconnect pets with their families. The initiative is part of the shelter’s broader strategy to streamline pet reunification.

Vision

The shelter’s audacious goal is to give every community member a convenient point of contact for lost pets. By providing a physical point of contact, the shelter hopes to shorten the time between a pet’s disappearance and its return.

“If a citizen finds a lost pet, they’ll come to one of our stations,” explained Leo Delgado, the shelter’s community engagement coordinator. Delgado’s statement underscores the shelter’s commitment to community involvement.

Technology

Each station houses a microchip scanner inside a bright yellow box that instantly reads a pet’s chip number. The device automatically scans the chip and displays the unique identifier.

The bright yellow box makes the station easily identifiable in any setting. The weather‑proof enclosure protects the electronics from the elements.

When a chip is detected, the device displays the number and prompts the finder to scan a QR code on the box. The QR code is printed on the same box, ensuring the finder can quickly access the necessary online form.

Scanning the QR code opens a website on the finder’s phone where they can enter the chip number. The website is designed to be mobile‑friendly, allowing finders to input the chip number quickly and receive the owner’s phone number and email.

The website then pulls up the owner’s contact information, allowing the finder to initiate a reunification. Once contact is made, the shelter coordinates the safe handover of the pet, ensuring the animal’s health and safety.

Current Rollout

So far, the shelter has installed reunion stations at three Round Rock businesses. The first round of deployments took place in the city of Round Rock.

The first locations are Round Rock Yoga, Anchor Bar, and Pet Suites Round Rock. Each location offers a different environment, from a yoga studio to a popular bar and a pet care facility.

Three more stations are scheduled to go out soon, expanding the network. These additional stations will broaden the program’s reach to more neighborhoods.

Future Expansion

The shelter plans to eventually place stations in every zip code across Williamson County. The expansion will reduce the need for residents to travel to the Georgetown shelter or involve law enforcement.

By covering all zip codes, the program aims to reduce the need for citizens to travel to the Georgetown shelter or contact law enforcement. The goal is to make lost‑pet recovery a community‑driven effort.

Community Impact

Delgado emphasized that the stations help keep the community calm during the reunification process. Local businesses that host stations report increased foot traffic and a sense of pride in supporting animal welfare.

“Basically, we are trying to get pets home back to their families as quickly as possible,” Delgado added. He also highlighted the neighbor‑to‑neighbor spirit that the program fosters.

The stations are built to withstand local weather conditions, featuring a sturdy frame and a sealed enclosure to protect the electronics. The bright yellow color makes them visible to passersby.

Key Takeaways

• The program provides immediate access to pet microchip data through QR‑enabled stations.
• Three stations are already active in Round Rock, with three more soon.
• The long‑term plan is to cover every zip code in Williamson County, reducing reliance on the Georgetown shelter.

With its expanding network of reunion stations, the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter is turning lost‑pet recovery into a community‑driven effort that could soon cover every corner of the county. The program demonstrates how local resources can be leveraged to support animal welfare on a county‑wide scale.