City Pet Microchipping Laws: Can They Be Repealed?

In the U.S., cities rely on a parliamentary process to turn a bill into a law, or an ordinance. An ordinance is a city law, and an amending ordinance is a law that changes an existing ordinance. A municipal ordinance can be repealed, but only by an ordinance enacted by the body that originally passed it. The process of repealing a city law involves the public and careful stewardship by clerks and councils. The process begins with the drafting of a new ordinance, which includes a brief explanation of the council's proposal and the ordinances that require amending. The new language is presented in the document, stating how the law will look after passage by the council and if any language is being replaced or repealed. Once the first draft is ready, it is included in a city council meeting agenda, which is publicly available. During the committee review, councilmembers discuss and debate the proposed bill, and they may make amendments. If at least six councilmembers vote to override the mayor's veto, the bill becomes law.

Microchipping as a form of permanent identification

Microchipping is a safe, reliable, and permanent method of identifying pets. The microchip is a tiny transponder, about the size of a large grain of rice, injected under the skin of the animal. It is a passive device, storing a unique identification number without actively transmitting any information. The microchip itself has no power source and is activated by a scanner, which reads the identification number and retrieves the owner's contact information from a database.

Microchipping is a popular method of permanent identification due to its many benefits. Firstly, it is a quick and simple procedure that can be performed during a routine veterinary visit without the need for anaesthesia. It is no more painful than a typical injection, and the discomfort is minimal and short-lived. Secondly, microchips are tamper-proof and cannot be misread, ensuring accurate and secure identification of the pet and its owner. This is especially advantageous over traditional methods like collars with tags, which can fall off or be removed, or tattoos, which can be difficult to read and are more easily altered.

In addition to permanent identification, microchips also aid in reclaiming lost pets. Animal shelters, control officers, and veterinarians routinely scan for microchips to quickly reunite pets with their owners, reducing expenses for housing and care. Research in 2015 showed that reclaim rates were significantly higher for microchipped animals, highlighting the effectiveness of this method. Furthermore, microchips can be used to confirm the identity of protected species illegally removed from the wild, contributing to conservation efforts.

While microchipping provides permanent identification, it is important to note that it does not replace other forms of identification, such as collars with up-to-date tags. Microchips serve as a backup when collars are lost or removed, and the combination of multiple identification methods increases the chances of a lost pet being returned to its owner. Additionally, microchips do not contain medical information or function as a GPS device, but some databases allow owners to store medical records for quick reference.

Although microchipping is generally voluntary, some cities and states have implemented laws mandating microchipping for pets. For example, Hawaii became the first state to mandate microchipping for pet owners in 2021, and California law requires animal shelters to ensure microchipping before releasing cats or dogs to their owners. These laws highlight the growing recognition of microchipping as a reliable and permanent form of pet identification.

Benefits of microchipping

While it is unclear whether a city law on microchipping pets can be repealed, it is important to note that microchipping has several benefits. Here are some detailed paragraphs outlining these advantages:

Microchipping provides permanent identification for pets, increasing the chances of a reunion if they go missing. Unlike collars and ID tags, microchips cannot fall off or become unreadable, ensuring that lost pets can be identified and returned to their owners. This simple procedure, comparable to a routine vaccine, significantly reduces the number of unidentified stray animals in shelters.

The microchip implantation process is straightforward and quick, requiring no surgery or anesthesia. It is injected under the skin with a hypodermic needle, causing minimal pain, similar to a typical injection. This ease of implantation encourages pet owners to take advantage of this safe and effective method of identification.

Microchips are highly reliable, utilizing radio-frequency technology to transmit encoded identification numbers when scanned. These identification numbers are linked to nationwide registries, enabling shelters and veterinary clinics to quickly locate the contact information of the pet owner. This efficiency in retrieving owner information increases the likelihood of a swift reunion between the pet and its guardian.

Additionally, microchips offer peace of mind to pet owners. Knowing that their pets have a form of permanent identification provides comfort and reassurance, especially in situations where pets are more prone to getting lost, such as during holidays or emergencies. Microchipping helps alleviate the stress and trauma associated with losing a beloved pet, contributing to the overall well-being of both the owners and their furry companions.

Overall, the benefits of microchipping pets significantly outweigh any potential risks, which are minimal. The improved chances of reuniting with a lost pet and the convenience of the procedure make microchipping a highly recommended practice for responsible pet guardianship.

Microchip implantation procedure

Microchips are tiny, coded markers implanted into individual animals to allow the assessment of growth rates, movement patterns, and survival patterns. They are also used to confirm the identity of pets and protected species that have been illegally removed from the wild. The procedure for implanting a microchip is straightforward and can be done during a routine veterinary visit. The microchip is injected under the skin using a hypodermic needle, usually below the skin at the back of the neck between the shoulder blades on the dorsal midline. In continental Europe, pets typically get the implant in the left side of their neck. The chip can often be felt under the skin and is held in place by thin layers of connective tissue.

No surgery or anaesthesia is required, although if a pet is already undergoing anaesthesia for another procedure, the microchip can be implanted while the animal is still under. The procedure is not painful, although the needle is slightly larger than those used for regular injections. It is important that the microchip is implanted properly, as using too much force or placing the needle too deeply can make it difficult to detect or read the microchip in the future and can even cause life-threatening problems. Therefore, it is recommended that microchips are implanted under the supervision of a veterinarian, who can ensure the microchip is placed correctly and can recognise and treat any signs of a problem.

After implantation, it is important to check that the microchip transponder has been fully inserted and to scan the implantation site to ensure the microchip is working correctly. It is helpful to keep the pet calm for 24 hours after the procedure. The microchip should then be enrolled to the pet owner. Microchips can be scanned at most veterinary clinics and animal shelters, and some of these institutions will host microchipping events.

Microchips have several advantages. They can help return lost pets to their owners quickly, avoiding expenses for housing, food, medical care, outplacing, and euthanasia. They can also be used as a form of positive identification for veterinary tests and procedures, and some pet doors can be programmed to be activated by the microchips of specific animals. Although there is a very low risk that animals with microchips will develop cancer, the benefits of microchipping far outweigh this risk.

Microchip registration process

Microchipping your pet is a reliable way to ensure they can be returned if they are lost. However, simply microchipping your pet is not enough. It is necessary to register the microchip and your contact details in a database so that your information can be found if you and your pet are separated.

There are several microchip databases, and it is important to keep your registration information current to keep your pet safe. If you cannot find your pet's microchip number, you can contact your vet, breeder, shelter, or rescue, as they may have this information on record. You can also bring your pet to a veterinarian or shelter to have its microchip scanned.

If your pet's microchip is not registered with PetLink, you can use the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) lookup tool to determine which database it is registered with or who the manufacturer of the microchip is. PetLink offers free lifetime registration and free account updates. If your pet's microchip is not a prepaid PetLink microchip, there is a one-time fee of $29.95 to register. To register your pet's microchip with PetLink, you can create an account for you and your pet and then register your pet by providing their microchip number and filling in all owner and pet information.

FreePetChipRegistry is another option for registering your pet's microchip. This registry is free for the life of your pet and can be used for any brand of microchip. No registration, maintenance, or update fees are required as long as you register your pet with FreePetChipRegistry.com.

Privacy concerns

Microchipping pets is a safe procedure that has proven to increase the chances of a reunion with a lost pet. However, some people may have privacy concerns regarding the practice.

The microchips used in pets only contain identification numbers and are not GPS devices. They do not actively transmit or receive data, so your personal information is safe. The only information on the chip is what you provide, and there are protections in place to prevent someone from looking up another person's information from their pet's microchip. In most cases, you can choose to opt in or out of other communications, such as newsletters or advertisements, from the manufacturer.

Some people may worry about keeping their personal information safe, especially when stored on a database. However, the information provided to the manufacturer's microchip registry will only be used to contact you if your lost pet is found and its microchip scanned.

While microchipping pets is currently optional in most places, some cities or counties may require it as part of their codes of ordinances. In 2021, Hawaii became the first state to mandate that owners microchip their pets. The optional nature of microchipping in most places allows for freedom of choice, but skeptics are concerned about the potential abuse of data by tech-savvy criminals if it becomes a widespread practice. With everyone walking around with a unique identifier, it may be difficult to prevent third parties from reading the identifier on the tag.

To address privacy concerns, individuals can consult with experts, particularly those with knowledge of local and regional microchip databases. Additionally, keeping collars with up-to-date identification tags is essential, as microchips should not be considered a replacement for traditional forms of pet identification.

Frequently asked questions