It is an easier way to reunite lost pets in Trumbull County. The Healthy Hearts and Paws Project is providing free microchip scanners to several police departments in the county like Niles, Warren, Vienna and Lordstown.

"I realized there's probably a lot of police department's in Trumbull County that don't have a microchip scanner for lost animals," said Jason Cooke, President of The Healthy Hearts and Paws Project. Cooke was able to use a scanner to locate a missing dog's owner. He realized the need for police department's to have access to the devices that could benefit hundreds of families. 

"I thought it would be a great tool and an investment in the community to help get a person's lost pet back to them safe and sound," Cooke added.

Brookfield Township Police told 21 News they've already located several missing pets using these scanners.

"In the summer time, when people are leaving their dogs outside more, they're escaping, jumping fences,' explained Sgt. Cody Dean with Brookfield Township Police Department. "We get a lot of calls of dogs roaming around."

The scanners cost up to $400 and they're paid for by donations to The Healthy Hearts and Paws Project.

"They'll see we buy one for a department and we'll get checks in the mail," Cooke said. "They say, 'we want to donate $25 to the next scanner you buy for a department."

"You kind of wave it over the dog and see if it's chipped," Sgt. Dean added. "It'll give you a reading and punch it into the program."

The device reveals the animals code which lists information about the pet, including it's owner's contact information. 

Cooke said it's their goal to eventually get a scanner at every police department in Trumbull County.

"If this gets just one lost pet home safely so somebody doesn't have to worry about where their pet is, it's well worth it," Cooke added. 

Trumbull County police departments that would like a microchip scanner or those wanting to donate, contact The Healthy Hearts and Paws Project through their Facebook page.