The city of Austin is poised to make microchipping pets mandatory, with a City Council vote expected this week. Microchips, small trackers implanted under a pet’s skin, help reunite lost animals with their owners, effectively serving as a “ticket home.”
This initiative is part of a broader effort to alleviate capacity issues at the Austin Animal Center, which has faced challenges with shelter overcrowding. Don Bland, the city’s chief animal services officer, emphasized that many animals entering the center lack microchips, despite appearing well-cared for. “Knowing who a pet belongs to and getting them back home is huge,” he said.
The city already promotes measures such as spaying and neutering pets and waiving adoption fees to control the shelter population. Similar microchip requirements exist in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio, where microchipped pets have shorter stays in shelters, according to San Antonio Animal Care Services spokesperson Lisa Norwood.
Austin City Council Member Chito Vela stated that while microchipping will be required, there will be no fines for pets found without one. “This is a nudge in the direction of getting your pet microchipped,” he said, urging residents to take advantage of the benefits for their families and pets.
Microchipping costs between $20 and $75, but the Austin Animal Center offers free services to Travis County residents. Vela plans to collaborate with shelters to host local microchipping clinics. Additionally, the city will ensure microchip scanners are available at police and fire stations, recreation centers, and public libraries to facilitate quicker reunions for lost pets.
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