It’s sometimes impossible to resist the sweet stare of a playful puppy when visiting a shelter. Cats, too, can be a popular choice for first-time pet owners.
The microchipping process, on the other hand, can be daunting. Texans may not know where to register their new furry friend, or worse, in which cities it’s illegal not to do so.
No law in the Texas Constitution and Statutes explicitly makes it a crime to own a pet that is not microchipped.
Section 823.004 of the Texas Health and Safety Code requires animal shelters, releasing agencies, and similar businesses to scan any new animal in their custody for a microchip. However, this does not mean you get off scot-free.
Section 51.002 of the Texas Local Government Code states that the governing body of a municipality can adopt, enforce, or maintain a rule, so long as it is consistent with the laws of the state. This is partly why cities can create their own ordinances and why it is not legal in all parts of Texas.
In San Antonio, it is illegal to have a dog, cat, or equine older than four months old to reside within city limits and not have a registered microchip, but there are a few exemptions. According to the City of San Antonio’s website, the ordinance does not apply if:
In 2024, Austin approved a similar ordinance (Section 3-2-5). It requires any animal that is not wildlife or livestock and at least four months old to have a registered microchip.
In the Alamo City, you could receive a fine between $100 and $2,000, per Section 5-21 of the City of San Antonio’s Code of Ordinances. Repeat offenders of rules in “Chapter 5: Animals” face a starting point of $500.
Fines in Austin can vary from $10 to $500, unless a person is deemed to have acted with criminal negligence. In that case, it can go up to $2,000.
Many private veterinary clinics and local community shelters, including the Animal Defense League and San Antonio Humane Society, offer microchip appointments. Not all places register the microchip into the database of the microchip manufacturer, which is part of what is required in San Antonio and Austin. Owners should ask if they need to do it themselves before their visit.