Helping Lost Pets Return to the Families Who Love Them
A new initiative across South Mississippi will give residents an easy way to help lost pets find their way home.
The Gulf Coast Community Foundation (GCCF) is partnering with animal welfare organizations throughout its six-county service area to install public microchip-scanning stations, providing a convenient way for people who find a stray pet to check for a registered microchip and help reunite the animal with its owner.
Funded through the Jack A. and Gertrude W. Wilson Animal Welfare Fund, the stations will be placed across George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, and Stone counties, with one location per county except Harrison, which will have two.
Several locations have already been confirmed, including The Local Storage facility on Old Highway 63 in Lucedale in George County and the Wiggins Police Department in Stone County. In Harrison County, one station will be located at MGM Park, home of the Biloxi Shuckers, through a community partnership with the organization. GCCF expects the stations to be installed in the coming weeks, with additional locations to be finalized as plans evolve. Follow the Foundation’s social media (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn) for updates.
The scanning stations will be managed in partnership with six local animal welfare organizations, the same agencies that participated in GCCF’s second-annual FIXED for Life program in 2025: Rise & Shine Animal Rescue in George County, Friends of the Animal Shelter in Hancock County, Humane Society of South Mississippi in Harrison County, Friends of Jackson County Animal Shelter, Pearl River County SPCA, and Stone County SPCA.
For smaller rescues like Rise & Shine Animal Rescue, the availability of community scanning stations can make a significant difference.
“As a rescue with a municipal contract, having access to microchip scanning stations in the community can make a huge difference in how quickly lost pets are reunited with their families,” says Denise Wilder, director of Rise & Shine Animal Rescue. “When a stray animal is brought in to us, one of the first things we do is scan for a microchip. If the pet has one and the contact information is current, we can often locate the owner within minutes.”
Research continues to reinforce the value of microchips as a permanent form of identification. Studies from the American Veterinary Medical Association show that dogs with microchips are returned to their owners at significantly higher rates than those without, and the difference for cats is even more dramatic. By placing scanners directly within communities, local organizations hope to make that reunification process even faster.
“For small rescues like ours, tools that help reunite pets with their families before they ever enter the shelter system are incredibly valuable,” Wilder adds. “The Gulf Coast Community Foundation has been instrumental in helping Rise & Shine Animal Rescue expand our ability to serve the animals and families of Lucedale and George County. Partnerships like this truly make it possible for us to reach more people and help more pets than we ever could on our own.”
Building on that impact, 2025 also marked the second year of GCCF’s FIXED for Life program, which awarded $150,000 in grants for no-cost spay and neuter services across the same six counties where the scanning stations are being installed. Through the program last year, more than 1,400 cats and dogs received these vital services, helping prevent unwanted litters and improving the overall health and wellbeing of pets throughout the region.
“The continued support of our local community foundation affirms the vital role the Humane Society of South Mississippi plays in the welfare of our region’s pets,” says Lori West, CEO of the Humane Society of South Mississippi. “This partnership not only sustains our lifesaving work but also reflects a shared commitment to compassion and community. Microchip scanning stations are a simple but powerful tool that help community members identify lost pets quickly and reunite them with their families, often before they ever need to enter the shelter system.
“At the same time, programs like FIXED for Life, which helped us provide spay and neuter services to 231 community pets last year free of charge, address the root causes of pet homelessness in our region,” West continues. “Together, these efforts strengthen the safety net for animals across South Mississippi and ensure more pets remain safe, healthy, and at home with the families who care about them.”
For rural communities in particular, these programs can have a lasting impact. Preventing unwanted litters through spay and neuter services reduces future shelter intake, while tools like microchip scanners help ensure pets that do become lost have the best possible chance of finding their way home.
“These programs reflect the Wilsons’ generosity and legacy, which continue to make a tangible difference on the Mississippi Gulf Coast by ensuring animals in need receive the care and compassion they deserve,” said Dr. Christen Duhé, president and executive director of GCCF. “That impact also extends to pet owners and to the people who dedicate their time and hearts to rescuing, protecting and providing for the animals.”
Together, the scanners, spay and neuter programs, and partnerships between GCCF and local rescues represent a growing network of collaboration, working toward the same goal: keeping pets safe, healthy, and where they belong — with the families who love them.
“For small rescues like ours, tools that help reunite pets with their families before they ever enter the shelter system are incredibly valuable.” Denise Wilder Director of Rise & Shine Animal Rescue in George County
Gulf Coast Community Foundation
11975 Seaway Rd., Ste. B-150, Gulfport
228.897.4841
www.mgccf.org
