Denver does not require all owned pets to be microchipped, but the Denver Animal Shelter microchips every dog and cat at adoption. DRMC chapter 8 license is tied to the chip, helping reunite lost pets across Denver and Colorado.
There is no Denver-wide ordinance forcing every pet owner to implant a microchip, but DRMC chapter 8 establishes the Denver Animal Shelter (DAS) policy of microchipping every dog and cat before adoption, with the chip number recorded in the city license database. Denver Animal Protection (DAP) officers scan every found pet on intake. Owners are encouraged to keep contact information current; outdated chip records are the leading cause of failed reunifications. Colorado has no statewide microchip mandate. Veterinarians and many low-cost clinics, including monthly DAS chip clinics, implant chips for $25 or less. Microchipping plus license tags greatly reduces shelter euthanasia of stray animals.
There is no fine for not microchipping. However failing to license a found pet under DRMC chapter 8 carries fines starting at $80 and impound fees. Outdated chip information is not penalized but slows reclaim.
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See how Denver's microchipping rules stack up against other locations.
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