Heidi’s Hope helping to reunite lost pets across Southeastern North Carolina

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) -There’s a new tool to help get lost pets back home. It’s now been unveiled in front of Wilmington Police headquarters. The scanner confirms if there’s a chip in place – and provides the contact information so the company can reach out to that pet’s owner.

“It’s estimated one in three pets get lost in their lifetime,” says the founder of Heidi’s Hope, Trish Arnold. “We like to say the pets don’t have a way of calling home, but these microchip scanning stations will help them get there.”

For the past 15 years, Heidi’s Hope has helped in its mission to get homeless dogs and cats a second chance.

“We’re very excited about this scanning station we have five more waiting to be placed,” says Arnold. “Unfortunately about 80 percent of pets who are not microchipped are not reunited with their families. That’s why microchipping is very important; it helps reunite that dog or cat with its family,” Arnold said.

The scanning station is the latest service provided by Heidi’s Hope. This non-profit has a simple goal: to keep pets out of shelters and in homes with families.

Heidi’s Hope has been instrumental in helping to fund and stock pet food at local shelters across southeastern North Carolina. It also works tirelessly, in the creation of a “Meals on Wheels” program specifically for pets.

“Statistics say that 60% of seniors who receive Meals on Wheels programs live with a pet,” says Arnold. “I further read that many of the senior citizens share their food, their human food, for many reasons, but most of all because they can’t afford both.”

Since its inception, to help housebound senior citizens, Heidi’s Hope has helped to collect more than 134 thousand pounds of food—with a street value of close to $118,000.

To learn more about the non-profit’s mission and all the programs it offers: click here.

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