Berkeley Animal Care Services microchips all dogs and cats released for adoption and offers low-cost microchipping clinics, while state law requires shelter animals to be chipped before transfer to new owners.
California requires public animal shelters to microchip dogs and cats prior to release, and Berkeley Animal Care Services builds the cost into adoption fees. For privately owned pets, microchipping is strongly encouraged but not legally mandated by Berkeley ordinance. The Berkeley dog license application asks for chip information, and BACS uses national registries to reunite strays with owners. Adopters must update registration when contact information changes. BACS hosts periodic free or low-cost chip clinics in partnership with regional rescues to support residents during evacuation events such as wildfires.
No standalone penalty for unchipped privately owned pets, but unchipped strays are harder to reunite and may incur higher impound and boarding fees.
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