LA City Council Committee Considers Plan to Microchip Pets
A Bid to Reduce Overcrowding in City Shelters
In a bid to reduce the number of lost animals entering the city’s six shelters and reduce overcrowding, a City Council committee will consider a proposal to require all pets to be microchipped.
The Current State of Microchipping in Los Angeles
The Department of Animal Services currently charges $15 to microchip pets, and uses grant funding to help cover the fee for residents who cannot afford it. Animals adopted from city shelters are registered and microchipped as well.
Data on Pet Ownership in Los Angeles
According to data from Michelson Found Animals, there are approximately 2.4 million pets in Los Angeles households. An estimated 25% of these pets, roughly 600,000, are microchipped, and another 1.8 million pets are unchipped.
The Cost of Microchipping
In order to microchip most pets in the city, it would cost approximately $5.4 million, a report from LAAS. The figure does not include other related costs for staffing, administration, or a citywide mandatory microchipping program.
Current County Regulations
Under Los Angeles County rules, dogs and cats four months or older must be implanted with a microchip. A pet owner must provide the microchip number to the county’s Department of Animal Care and Control. Any changes of pet ownership must be notified to the county’s department as well with the new address and telephone number.
Bi-Weekly Vaccination Clinics
The county hosts bi-weekly vaccination clinics at its six regional Animal Care Centers, where microchips can be bought for $7.50. It does not include registration of the microchip.
Return-to-Home Rate
Despite the policy, the county’s return-to-home rate stands at only 11%.
Other Cities with Similar Policies
Dallas has a similar policy – microchipping has replaced the requirement for animal registration/pet licensing. In Washoe County, Nevada, which includes Reno, officials spent $8,100 during the 2023 fiscal year on microchips, according to LAAS’ report. Data showed that the up-front expenditures on microchips were recovered by reducing intake and length of stay for pets arriving at animal shelters. Data showed Washoe County’s return-to-home rate for dogs stood at 67% that year as a result of field officers returning animals directly to their homes after scanning for microchips.
Recommendations
LAAS noted that if the city were to implement a microchip policy, the program should “avoid punitive measures.” “If the city of Los Angeles were to implement such a program, the microchips must be both affordable and widely accessible, with staff trained to implant them,” the report reads.
FAQs
* What is the cost of microchipping pets in Los Angeles?
The Department of Animal Services currently charges $15 to microchip pets, and uses grant funding to help cover the fee for residents who cannot afford it.
* How many pets in Los Angeles are microchipped?
An estimated 25% of pets in Los Angeles are microchipped, roughly 600,000, and another 1.8 million pets are unchipped.
* What is the cost of implementing a citywide microchipping program?
In order to microchip most pets in the city, it would cost approximately $5.4 million.
* What is the return-to-home rate in Los Angeles?
The county’s return-to-home rate stands at only 11%.
* What other cities have similar policies?
Dallas and Washoe County, Nevada, which includes Reno, have similar policies.
