(A) A person who owns a dog or cat in the city shall ensure that each dog or cat owned by that person bears a permanent means of identification at all times, such that the owner of a lost or stolen dog or cat can be ascertained quickly and easily.
(B) The means of identification required by this section shall be in addition to any tags required to be worn by dogs or cats by state law or other provision of this code, and shall be either by means of:
(1) A microchip implanted in the dog or cat or animal which bears a registered identification number, and which can be read by a standard microchip scanner; or
(2) A permanent tag attached to a durable collar worn at all times by the dog or cat, and bearing the owner's current name and telephone number.
(C) Each veterinarian or other person in the city who implants microchips as contemplated in this section shall, at an interval of not less than once each month, send to the Noblesville Police Department the names, addresses, and phone numbers of the owners of the dogs and cats, and the corresponding microchip identification numbers. Such records shall be available without court order.
(D) It shall be unlawful for a person to own a dog or cat three (3) months of age or older which is kept in the city, and which does not bear a permanent means of identification as provided in this section.
(E) Prior to the return to its owner of an impounded dog or cat which at the time of impoundment did not bear a permanent means of identification as required in this code, the enforcement authority shall cause a microchip with a registered identification number to be implanted in the animal with the cost to be paid by the animal owner. (Ord. 09-02-21, passed 2-23-21)