City of Las Vegas pet owners must microchip pets by Aug. 1

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Pet owners in Las Vegas, the clock is ticking to microchip your furry friends.

A mandatory microchip ordinance goes into effect Aug. 1 for City of Las Vegas pet owners. In October 2023, the city council passed the rule which states dogs and cats older than 4 months and residing in the city must be microchipped. 

“We know that The Animal Foundation takes in a lot of animals, but when you’re actually walking by kennel by kennel by kennel, and you’re seeing all of these animals, you really get perspective on the issue here in Las Vegas, which is an overpopulation issue,” Kelsey Pizzi with The Animal Foundation explained. “Too many animals in the community.”

Pizzi said The Animal Foundation receives nearly 60 animals a day. On Wednesday, it was 100.

Pizzi said one in three pets go missing. Microchips are important. 

“We love collars, we love tags, but they can fall off. A microchip is a permanent way to identify your pet.”

It doesn’t track, but rather holds your contact information, so keep it updated.

Pizzi said half the dogs and cats that come in do not have microchips. Microchipping costs $35 at The Animal Foundation’s low-cost clinic.

After Aug. 1, it will be rough for owners, because violators face a misdemeanor, a fine up to $1,000 and possible time behind bars.

Pet owners online are in support, and some are against it. Las Vegas City Councilman Cedric Crear said that’s in every city ordinance. 

“Every single ordinance that the City of Las Vegas passes has that last paragraph in it. And it talks about if you do not comply after warning after warning after warning, and then possibly being fined and being fined. And if you just ignore it then potentially you could get up to a $1,000 fine. The goal is to get pets microchipped, the goal is not to throw people in jail,” he said.

The new requirements don’t apply to animals who have lived in the city for less than 30 days or to visiting pets.

Crear explained it’s an effort to reduce The Animal Foundation population and reunite families. 

Pizzi echoed the sentiment and said, “We’re hopeful with this new ordinance, more dogs and cats that come to the shelter will be microchipped and then we can reunite them with their families, because that’s always the end goal, is to reunite them with their families and have them go home where they belong.”

If you lost or found a pet, Pizzi recommended asking around the neighborhood, posting on social media and uploading a photo to Petco Love Lost. Bringing them to the shelter should be your last step. You can walk in, but appointments are recommended. 

Animal Protective Services will announce microchipping events and will post on their and the City of Las Vegas’s websites and social media pages.