Bastrop City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance requiring all dogs and cats to be microchipped during its April 8 meeting.

The proposed microchipping ordinance would update the city’s animal control code to reduce the number of unclaimed pets entering the city shelter.

Some context

Robert McBain, an official with Bastrop’s animal control and code enforcement department, said microchipping helps lower shelter costs and save more animals' lives.

McBain said unchipped animals must be held at the shelter for 72 hours before being adopted, euthanized or placed in foster care. In contrast, pets with microchips are held for up to 10 days, giving owners more time to reclaim them.

“I returned [a] dog to a lady that was visiting her daughter ... [and she] didn’t even realize her dog had gotten out,” McBain said. “We were able to contact them, get the dog back to them in real time, saving the ... city $270 every time we pick up an animal and house it at the shelter.”

McBain said most residents who attended the April 2 town hall supported the ordinance.

At the April 8 meeting, McBain presented survey results regarding the ordinance, which had gathered 169 responses over two weeks:

• 51% said their pets are already microchipped
• 34% of those without chips cited cost as the main barrier
• 88% said microchipping is an effective way to reunite lost pets with their owners
• 62% said they support requiring pet registration within the city of Bastrop

“What we’re wanting to do is just close that gap from [51%] to 70-80%, something like that,” McBain said. “[18 respondents said] their pets don't even wear any type of identification, and I think that’s really where we’re trying to reach. ... We’re going to enforce this with education.”

Breaking it down

McBain said it currently costs the city about $270 every time an animal is picked up and housed at the shelter.

To help reduce that cost, the city is partnering with Save an Angel to offer microchipping services for $22 as opposed to the typical vet microchipping cost of $70-$100, McBain said.

The ordinance would also allow Save an Angel to hold monthly vaccination and microchipping clinics at Bastrop City Hall.

Council member Cheryl Lee supported the ordinance but noted that even chipped animals might still be transported to the shelter.

“That’s going to be $270 regardless if they have a chip or not,” Lee said. “You still have to transport it to the animal shelter until the owner is found.”

However, McBain said that microchipped pets can often be returned without going to the shelter, as animal control officers and other agencies can scan animals on the spot and contact owners directly.

Stay tuned

The ordinance will return to council for a second reading and final approval at the council’s next meeting on April 22.