N.Y. Seeks to Add Microchip Requirement

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Pet retailers in New York state may soon be required to implant microchips into all dogs and cats prior to sale.

A proposed bill before the State Assembly would require pet retailers to implant microchips into both dogs and cats prior to the sale of the animals. The microchip would have to be implanted by a licensed veterinarian, and would be required to be registered with the purchaser’s contact information. The purchaser would also have to be given instructions from the retailer on how to use the microchip.

The chips, which use RFID technology, are typically implanted with a syringe, often behind the animal’s ear. Owners submit information about the animal, along with their contact information, to a registry.

RFID scanners are used to read the information on a chip to ensure proper identification of the animal in the event it is lost, or if information on the chip needs to be retrieved during medical treatment.

In another New York proposal, retailers may soon be required to arrange veterinary examinations for all cats prior to sale. Assembly Bill 9256 would add this requirement, which already applies to dogs in New York.

Retailers would be required to arrange for a veterinary exam within five days of receipt of the cat, and prior to any sale, to determine any medical conditions. If the cat is 18 months or older, the diagnosis would also have to include any congenital conditions.

 Editor’s Note: The information contained in these columns are for informational purposes only and were accurate at the time of publication. They do not reflect the opinions of the writer or the magazine.

-Dan Calabrese