HOUSTON – It is Houston law to get your pet with microchip, but for different reasons, not all pets are microchipped. A Houston man said his biggest regret is that his dog wasn’t microchipped.
In cellphone video, the dog Rose, affectionately known as “Rosie,” can be seen sitting on Chase Maegden’s lap.
These are the moments that Chase misses the most.
“She was a rescue. I found her. She tried to find her owner. She did not have a microchip. When I took her to the vet, I gave her shots and everything,” Chase explained.
But one thing Chase didn’t do was microchip Rosie.
Required Houston Pet Microchips
“I never knew how much it cost. I figured it was expensive and she’s always with me. We are always on the side. If she can’t come, I won’t go,” Chase explained.
One night, Chase was driving home with Rosie in tow.
“I was in an accident coming off the 288 in Yellowstone and my vehicle flipped over and when they took me out of the car, my dog was riding with me, a little white chihuahua named Rose, and she ran out of the accident. I tried to look for her initially and they wouldn’t let me look for her anymore,” Chase said. “They had to take me in the ambulance.”
Tama Lundquist is the Houston Mascot Game co-chair
“Ninety percent of households in the United States consider a pet a member of the family, so how great would it be to have those first responders trained to think about dealing with a situation like that? We partnered with THLN, which is the Texas Humane Legislative Network, and they’ve come to Houston at the invitation of the Houston Pet Set and some support from the Houston Pet Set to train law enforcement officers on the bills that have become law, and these law enforcement officers now know what these laws are,” Lundquist said.
Houston now requires pet owners to microchip pets and bans the sale of commercially bred dogs
The law went into effect in 2022. It states that anyone who owns, owns, possesses, or has control of a dog or cat four months of age or older must have their pet registered, vaccinated against rabies every year, and have a registered microchip. As of February 1 of this year, the city has been enforcing the law.
“It’s a way for shelters to reduce the number of admissions, because if you don’t have a microchip, I think the chances of you getting that dog back is 5% without a microchip,” Lundquist explained.
Chase was released and recovered from the accident, but his heart remains broken as Rosie has never been found.
BOAT He is microchipped year round at $15 per animal. The shelter is offering free microchipping with your pet’s wellness appointment now through May 15.
Montgomery County offers free microchips year-round. Check with your city or county as different municipalities and organizations will host free microchip events throughout the year. Pet owners who do not comply with this law can face a fine of up to $500.
For City of Houston residents, Houston PetSet offers free microchipping along with free spay/neuter and vaccinations with a $20 deposit. Click here to find out more.
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