(a) An owner of a dog or cat commits an offense if the dog or cat does not have a microchip.
(b) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) that:
(1) the dog or cat was under four months of age;
(2) the dog or cat was being held for adoption by animal services or an animal welfare organization;
(3) the owner of the dog or cat has resided in the city for fewer than 30 days;
(4) the dog or cat qualifies for a medical exception from a licensed veterinarian;
(5) the dog or cat owner is not a resident of the city and is staying in the city for fewer than 60 days; or
(6) the person charged produces to the court proof of a registered microchip showing the dog or cat was implanted with a microchip at the time the citation was issued or not later than 20 days after the citation was issued.
(c) The owner of a dog or cat shall maintain his or her current contact information with a microchip registration company.
(1) If the owner's contact information changes, the owner shall update the microchip registration company not later than 30 days after the change in the contact information.
(2) If the ownership of a dog or cat changes, the new owner shall provide the microchip registration company with his or her contact information not later than 30 days after the change in ownership.
(3) It is a defense to prosecution under this subsection that the person charged produces to the court proof that the contact information was current and the correct owner was listed at the time the citation was issued or the contact information was corrected and made current not later than 20 days after the citation was issued. (Ord. Nos. 26024; 27250; 30483; 32194, eff. 11-11-22)