As of October 1, 2017, all dogs and cats four months and older reclaimed by their owner from the Carrollton Animal Services and Adoption Center must be microchipped. The microchip will be included in the reclaim fee of $20 for the first offense in a 12 month period. The microchip will serve as identification only and will not replace the city registration process. 

What is a microchip?

A microchip is a permanent form of identification. About the size of a grain of rice, it is injected beneath the surface of your pet's skin between the shoulder blades. The microchip can be read by a microchip reader that will pick up the chip's unique ID code to identify the pet.

How do I get one?

Most of our local veterinary clinics provide this service. We will not provide microchips upon request and will provide microchip dogs and cats that are being reclaimed for our shelter by their owner. Please click here for a list of our local veterinary clinics.  

What do I have to do after I've microchipped my pet?

Make sure you register the chip with your microchip company and keep your contact information up to date. The initial registration will take place during the pet reclaim process, but you will be responsible for ensuring that this information remains accurate. 

My pet is microchipped and the information is up to date – now what?

You're all set. If your pet is impounded, or an animal services officer asks to see that your pet is chipped, they will be able to scan your pet with a microchip reader and see that you are in compliance. Now, if your pet is ever lost, a shelter or person that finds the pet will be able to scan the chip, get your information and contact you to let you know they have your lost pet!

Is microchipping safe?

Yes! While negative reactions to microchips can happen, they are extremely rare. The benefits greatly outweigh any potential risk. Since 1996, a database has been kept of reactions to microchips, and of the more than 4 million animals that have been chipped, less than .01% have reported adverse reactions.  

https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/FAQs/Pages/Microchipping-of-animals-FAQ.aspx

My pet has a medical reason that he/she can't be chipped – what should I do?

If there is a medical reason your pet cannot be microchipped, simply have your veterinarian write a letter certifying that the pet should be exempt from the ordinance due to health-related reasons. This will need to be provided as proof if requested.