The city police department is receiving new equipment with a stated goal of helping catch New Yorkers who are cruel to animals.

All 86 precincts, including Housing Police Service Areas, are being equipped with pet microchip scanners as part of a partnership with the ASPCA.

The scanners can help officers who are responding to animal cruelty cases quickly obtain information about the owner.

For example, officials said that in 2016, when a dog was found in a Lower East Side dumpster, a microchip led them to find those responsible.