Oct. 10, 2025
By: Sarah A. Neikam, SPCA Albrecht Center Marketing Director

The SPCA Albrecht Center has just unveiled a much needed first for Aiken – a 24/7 Pet Microchip Scanning Station along with a Pet Food & Supply Pantry! Thanks to the generous efforts of SPCA volunteer Susan Birt and her coworkers from Union Agener, who chose to spend their annual Day of Service with us, this innovative dual-purpose station will serve as a truly helpful resource for lost pets and struggling families throughout our community.

Imagine finding a lost dog wandering your neighborhood at 7 p.m. on a Tuesday. Under normal circumstances, you would have to keep the dog overnight and wait until morning to take it to the animal shelter or a vet’s office to check for a microchip. Now, you can immediately check for that microchip yourself, which means that the dog could immediately be reunited with his family, instead of spending a night or more away from home.

Available around the clock, seven days a week, this easily accessible, outdoor station will allow anyone who finds a stray pet to check for a microchip immediately – no waiting for business hours. Simple visual instructions and a tethered scanner housed in a protective case make the process straightforward for anyone, even if they’ve never scanned a pet before. Once a microchip number is located, users can access lookup information via a displayed QR code to begin the reunion process right away.

This station represents more than convenience; it’s a powerful tool for intake diversion. Every pet that’s reunited directly with their owner is one less animal entering the shelter system. That means less stress for the pet, faster reunions for families searching for their missing pets, and more time and resources available for animals who truly have nowhere else to go.

SPCA Volunteer Susan Birt and her Union Agener coworkers pose with the completed project.

Adjacent to the scanning station, the Pet Food & Supply Pantry offers another kind of support. This accessible cabinet-style unit will be stocked with dog and cat food and supplies, available 24/7 for families facing financial hardship. Sometimes all it takes is a bag of kibble to help someone keep their beloved pet during a tough month. By providing this resource, we’re helping families stay together and preventing the heartbreaking surrenders that can happen when money gets tight.

Community members who want to help can donate food and supplies at their convenience, making this truly a community-powered resource. It’s neighbors helping neighbors in the most practical way possible.

This project also highlights something critical: microchips keep pets with their families, but only if your pet has one, and only if your contact information is current. We’ve taken in plenty of pets with microchips that lead nowhere because the owner moved or changed their phone number and forgot to update their information. A microchip is only as good as the contact information behind it.

If your pet isn’t microchipped yet, the SPCA Veterinary Care Center’s walk-in clinic offers them for just $25. It’s a small investment that could mean the difference between losing your pet forever and getting a phone call that they’re safe. And if your pet is already chipped, take a moment to verify that your contact information is current with the registry. That simple step could save your pet’s life.

This project was made possible by a combination of a Facebook fundraiser and generous funding from Union Agener. We’re grateful to everyone who contributed and to Susan and the entire Union Agener team for donating their time and skills to make this vision a reality. Our hope is that this first station will be so successful that we can expand the program to additional locations throughout Aiken, creating a network of resources that serves every corner of our community.

Now, lost pets will have a better chance of finding their way home, and families will have support when they need it most. That’s the kind of community connection we’re proud to be part of, one that keeps pets safe, families together, and our doors open for the animals who need shelter most.

Stop by and see the new station for yourself. Better yet, make sure your pets are microchipped and your information is up to date. Together, we’re making Aiken a safer place for every pet.🐾

Sarah Neikam is the Marketing Director for the SPCA Albrecht Center in Aiken, SC. She has been with the organization since 2012, holding various roles including Volunteer Coordinator and Director of Operations & HR. A Certified Animal Welfare Administrator as of 2022, Sarah is a passionate advocate for animal welfare. She resides in Aiken with her husband, Tom, and several beloved cats.