Chicago Animal Care and Control microchips every dog and cat before adoption or owner-redemption under MCC 7-12-310. There is no citywide mandate that privately owned pets be chipped, but Illinois Animal Control Act 510 ILCS 5 expects identification on impounded animals.
MCC 7-12-310 directs CACC to microchip adopted animals at the shelter's expense and register the chip to the new owner before the pet leaves the facility. Owners reclaiming impounded pets under MCC 7-12-220 are also chipped if not already, and chip registration must list a current Chicago address. The city does not require private veterinarians or breeders to chip every animal, but Cook County and Illinois animal-control law treat a chip plus rabies tag as primary identification for return-to-owner. Lost-pet recovery through CACC searches the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup. Owners must update registration when moving or transferring pets to avoid future impound holds.
There is no fine for skipping a chip on a privately owned pet. Failing to update registration after a CACC adoption breaches the contract under MCC 7-12-310 and adds future impound fees plus a $25 chip-rescan fee.
Chicago, IL
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See how Chicago's microchipping rules stack up against other locations.
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