Dogs and cats: microchip implants.

Existing law requires that the holding period for a stray dog or cat impounded in a shelter be 6 business days, not including the day of impoundment, with exceptions, as provided. Existing law requires a shelter, during this holding period and before adoption or euthanasia, to scan the dog or cat for a microchip that identifies the owner of that dog or cat and to make reasonable efforts to contact the owner. This bill would prohibit a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group from releasing a dog or cat to an owner seeking to reclaim it, or adopting out, selling, or giving away a dog or cat to a new owner, unless the dog or cat is microchipped with current information on the owner or new owner. The bill would, if the shelter or rescue group does not have microchipping capability on location, require the shelter or rescue group to first obtain from the owner or new owner an agreement to present to the shelter or rescue group, within the next 30 days, proof that the dog or cat is microchipped with current information on the owner or new owner. The bill would authorize a shelter or rescue group to require proof that a dog or cat is microchipped with current information on the owner reclaiming the dog or cat, or new owner receiving the dog or cat, before releasing, adopting out, selling, or giving away the dog or cat. The bill would, where the shelter or rescue group does not have microchipping capability on location, provide that an owner or new owner is not required to register the microchip number with a microchip registry company that will use, without the owner's or new owner's consent, the personal information of the owner or new owner for purposes other than to reunite the owner or new owner with the dog or cat. The bill would also include an exception for a dog or cat that is medically unfit for a microchipping procedure, as provided. Under the bill, a shelter or rescue group that violates these provisions on or after January 1, 2022, would be subject to a civil penalty of $100, subject to a specified exemption.