The West Richland Police Department has installed a free microchip scanning station to help reunite lost dogs with their owners.  

Located at the east end of the West Richland Police Department parking lot at 7920 W. Van Giesen St., the new station is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Community members who find a lost dog can take it to the station to scan for a microchip. Normally, this would be done at an animal shelter. If a chip is located, the station provides instructions for reunification.  

The goal is to lower the number of shelter intakes and allow the community to help lost dogs outside of business hours and on holidays and weekends.  

If a chip is not located, community members must temporarily take the dog back with them until another alternative is found. A sign at the station warns citizens leaving a dog behind at the station is considered a crime, which is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000, by imprisonment for not more than 365 days or both.  

The station is under multiple surveillance cameras and near a manned building.  

The new scanner was supported by the West Richland Police Department and the Community Care Foundation, with a sign contributed by an anonymous donor and the whole station put in place by the city maintenance division.