BILL NUMBER: S9081A

SPONSOR: THOMAS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to micro-
chipping of certain animals

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To require animal rescue organizations, along with the person who adopts
the animal, to be listed on a rescue animal's microchip.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of this bill amends section 386 of the agriculture and markets
law to allow humane societies, animal protective associations, municipal
shelters and other animal rescue organizations to microchip dogs and
cats in their possession if the animal is not already microchipped.
Organizations shall make best efforts to update the contact information
associated with each implanted or existing microchip to identify the
organization with last possession, any person to whom possession is
              

transferred through adoption, and for lost and found animals the most
accurate and up to date information of the current owner.

Section 2 of this bill states the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Household pets are beings with a soul who feel love, hurt and excitement
as humans can but they cannot speak for themselves. They need people to
speak for them, to protect their welfare and have their best interest in
mind. This bill would protect those pets who have in recent years become
another member of the family, rather than just a pet.

Microchipping provides a channel of communication between animals and
humans. The microchip, when scanned provides an identifying number which
corresponds to a database with more information like previous owner,
phone number and address. For a lost animal this could be the difference
between life and death. For example, in a study done by the American
Veterinary Medical Association found that three-fourths of stray
dogs/cats' owners were found through microchips. The same study also
found that lost dogs were reunited with their owners at more than double
the overall stray rate. According to ASPCA about 810,000 animals who
enter shelters as strays are reunited with their owners.

This bill would allow the organizations caring for these animals to
microchip them and be identified as an owner or previous caregiver in
some capacity alongside any new owner who adopts the animal. If some-
thing were to happen to the adoptive person and the animal found itself
on the street, by having the last known caregiving organization listed
the animal can be sent back to them. By being sent back to the shelter
the animal was adopted from, they would be in familiar surroundings and
know the staff. Knowing their surroundings and caregivers would decrease
fear/ possibly aggressive behavior that can sometimes lead to an animal
being euthanized.

This bill would also aid the stray population on the streets because
those animals would have a place to go. These animal rescue societies
were created to help those who can't always help themselves and need a
voice. They should be given the resources and allowances needed to
fulfill their honorable service to the community.

A recent example of how this bill would work is showcased with Titan's
story. Titan is a Great Pyrenees who was microchipped by a rescue in
2017 and then adopted out. The rescue was listed as an owner then they
added the owner second. Unfortunately, Titan's owner passed away in 2021
with no other family to care for him, but luckily Titan had the rescue
who found him listed in his details in the microchip database and was
able to return in hopes of finding a furever home.  He has since been
adopted and is living happily.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New legislation.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.