Rhode Islanders Push for Mandatory Microchipping - National Humane Education Society

Paws Up! To Rhode Island Senator Erin Lynch Prata for introducing a law that would require all dogs and cats to be microchipped.

May 1, 2019

The benefits of having your dog or cat microchipped are invaluable, but most of all, it can ensure that if your animal is ever lost they can easily be returned to you. Microchipping is a relatively inexpensive procedure, often times performed during an animal’s spay or neuter surgery, in which a microchip is implanted in the dog or cat’s skin that contains important data such as the animal’s name, the owner’s name, address, and contact information. At many shelters and animal rescues, staff members can scan the animal for a microchip and then have access to their information so that the animal and their owner can be happily reunited.

Sadly, many people still forgo this invaluable procedure, resulting in lost dogs and cats staying lost and living in shelters. Now, Rhode Island Senator Erin Lynch Prata is trying to change that. Introduced earlier this year, The Mandatory Dog and Cat Microchipping Act (Senate Bill 160) would require all breeders, shelters, and rescue organizations to microchip all dogs and cats before they are adopted, unless exempted by a veterinarian for medical reasons. If enacted, this legislation would take a great deal of stress off of pounds, shelters, and rescues that house adopted animals who just got lost or ran away.

Take Action: This bill is still being held by the Senate for further study. Contact Senator Erin Lynch Prata at sen-lynch@rilegislature.gov and express your support for this important legislation!