After years of vision and months of community collaboration, Beesley Animal Foundation has unveiled its new 24/7 Microchip Station and Outreach Box, now located on the Foundation’s front porch and available for public use.

Beesley Animal Foundation, open Mondays through Thursdays, has long recognized the need for a way to scan found pets during evenings and weekends. In October, the Foundation put out a call for a used newspaper stand to serve as the base of this after-hours resource, and the community answered. Thanks to the donation of a well-loved double newspaper box and the creativity of dedicated partners, the project quickly came to life.

Oakland High School’s welding class, led by Mr. Warmack, stepped in to help. Students removed several inches of concrete from the base, repaired dents, and welded broken pieces to make the box sturdy and functional again. It then moved on to Oakland High’s Art Club, under the direction of Mr. Baugh, where students transformed it into a vibrant cat-and-dog-themed work of art that any pet lover would appreciate. Scott Roberts put in shelves so that one side of the box can be used for scanning for microchips, and the other side will hold cat and dog food.

This dual-purpose box serves not only as a Microchip Station, helping reunite lost pets with their families, but also as an Outreach Pet Food Box, stocked with cat and dog food for pet owners in need after hours.

The DataMars Compact Max Microchip Scanner, sponsored by Dr. Kathryn McPherson of McPherson Veterinary Services, is user-friendly and includes clear written instructions as well as a video tutorial. Community veterinary partners like Dr. McPherson help make Beesley Animal Foundation projects like this possible.

Unveiled during National Microchipping Month, this long-awaited project is a testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together. Every element, from the box and repairs to the artwork and scanner and pet food, was donated, making this a truly grassroots initiative in service of pets and people throughout Middle Tennessee.

“We are so grateful to everyone who made this possible,” Beesley staff said in a statement. “This is more than just a box—it’s a symbol of how our community comes together to care for animals. Through all of our programs, we promote kindness, respect, and responsibility, and this project truly embodies those values.”

Anyone who locates a lost pet with a microchip can now scan them in at the station at Beesley Animal Foundation, 2215 Keeneland Commercial Blvd., Murfreesboro (just off of Rutherford Boulevard, across from the Kensington Place shopping center/Publix).

Find more on the Beesley Animal Foundation at facebook.com/beesleyfoundation; learn more about the Microchip Station and Pet Food Outreach Box and view a brief video with instructions on how to use the scanner, at beesleyanimalclinic.com/scanner-info.