California Bill to Require Microchipping For Pets

​worldanimalnews.com/california-bill-to-require-pet-microchipping-aims-to-reduce-number-of-animals-euthanized-in-shelters-throughout-the-state/

California is poised to enact a bill that will require all new adoptions to come with mandatory microchipping. The bill, aimed at protecting pets from being euthanized in shelters, hopes to reduce the amount of family pet euthanizations and reduce the financial burden on taxpayers. 

Over 500, 000 animals end up in California shelters every year and unfortunately, over half of them are euthanized. Sadly, only 15% of dogs and 2% of cats are reunited with their owners versus being euthanized. These statistics are saddening but also a call for action which California is addressing. California regularly demonstrates advanced animal welfare standards in comparison to the rest of the United States so this bill is no surprise to me. 

​“We have to do all we can to stop euthanizing dogs and cats in our shelters. It is morally abhorrent to kill these animals and a taxpayer burden as well,” said Judie Mancuso, Founder and CEO of Social Compassion in Legislation. “For a miniscule cost of 5$ for a microchip, we cannot afford to overlook this commonsense measure.”

By microchipping animals, shelters can easily locate owners of pets who have escaped and ended up in shelters reducing the amount of euthanizations and also increasing the amount of reunited animals with their families. Taxpayers fund euthanizations and this bill aims to reduce that financial burden on taxpayers while simultaneously saving animals' lives. As the above quote mentioned, the cost of a 5$ microchip pales in comparison to the taxpayer funded euthanizations. It's common sense to go ahead with this bill when you not only consider the financials, but also the animals and the families they are a part of.

As I mentioned, California has been at the forefront of animal welfare in the United States for a long time. California was the first state to ban fur and just last year, waived adoption fees for veterans in hopes of promoting companion animals and increasing adoptions. California also doled out a one time 50 million dollar payout to UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program to develop a grant for shelters in hopes of California working towards a no-kill policy for any treatable / adoptable animal. They continue to demonstrate a strong support for animal welfare and a continued commitment to helping animals in any way that they can.

I strongly support this bill and hope that I can report to you guys soon that it has passed and become law. This simple step of microchipping all new adoptions will ensure pets and families are reunited, will spare unnecessary euthanizations of pets who are lost to their families, and will hopefully help California work towards a no-kill policy.

HAPPY VEG