For Williamsburg Settlement residents who’ve ever faced the heartache of a lost pet or found a stray animal wandering the neighborhood, a new community resource might offer a faster way home. Harris County Emergency Services District 48 (HCESD 48) fire stations are now equipped with pet microchip scanners, thanks to a partnership with Harris County Pets, making it easier than ever to reunite lost animals with their families.

This free service is now available at all HCESD 48 fire stations. If you find a dog or cat in the community, you can bring the animal to a participating fire station to be scanned for a microchip—an internal ID that links pets to their owners through a secure registry.

Microchipping: How It Works and Why It Matters

A pet microchip is a small electronic chip—about the size of a grain of rice—implanted just under the skin, typically between the animal’s shoulder blades. When scanned, the chip reveals a unique identification number, which can be used to look up the owner's contact information through a pet recovery database.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), dogs with microchips are more than twice as likely to be returned to their owners, and cats are more than 20 times as likely to be reunited. The system works only if the microchip is registered with up-to-date owner information, so pet owners are urged to verify their contact details with the microchip registry.

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A Community Resource for Pet Safety in Williamsburg Settlement

With scanners now located at each HCESD 48 fire station, Williamsburg Settlement residents have access to quick, no-cost help when they find a lost animal. This program is part of a broader effort by Harris County Pets to reduce the number of lost animals entering shelters and increase successful reunions.

This program serves as a simple but impactful way for the community to support one another—and their four-legged neighbors—by making it easier to reconnect lost pets with their families. Harris County Public Health, which oversees Harris County Pets, launched this initiative as part of ongoing efforts to improve animal welfare and reduce shelter intake across the region.

Please Note: While fire stations are offering scanning services, pets cannot be left at the station. The goal is to provide quick ID scanning only. Once scanned, if the chip leads to an owner match, the finder can contact the pet's family directly or call Harris County Pets for assistance at 281-999-3191. 

Where to Go

HCESD 48 serves the western portion of unincorporated Harris County, including Williamsburg Settlement. The district spans 29.54 square miles and operates four strategically located fire stations:

• Fire Station #1: 24127 Western Centre Dr., Katy, TX 77494 (MAP)

• Fire Station #3: 1773 Westgreen Blvd., Katy, TX 77450 (MAP)

• Fire Station #4: 22855 Franz Rd., Katy, TX 77449 (MAP)

• Fire Station #5: 21201 Morton Rd., Katy, TX 77449 (MAP)

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These stations are now part of the pet reunification initiative, helping connect found pets back with their families throughout subdivisions, apartment communities, school zones, and businesses in the Williamsburg Settlement area.

Don’t Wait—Chip Your Pets

While the scanning service is geared toward found animals, pet owners are also encouraged to ensure their own pets are microchipped and registered. Microchipping is a one-time procedure often available through veterinary clinics and low-cost community events.

For more information on this microchip scanning service or to learn more about how to microchip your own pet, visit CountyPets.com or call 281-999-3191. 

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.