Franklin County, NC Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)

Sec. 6-7(e) governs finders of a wandering stray animal in Franklin County who do not want to turn the animal over to the Franklin County Animal Shelter. Within 48 hours, the finder must report the animal as found to the shelter and supply their name, contact information, and the location where the animal was found. The finder must then either provide proof that a veterinarian scanned the animal for a microchip, or physically bring the animal to the animal shelter to be scanned there. On top of the scan requirement, the finder must supply a photograph of the animal, which the shelter must post on social media and physically at the shelter, together with the finder's contact information, for a minimum of 30 days.

This scan-and-post regime exists to reunite chipped pets with owners even when a finder keeps the animal rather than surrendering it, and it sits inside the same Sec. 6-7 at-large article enforced by the Franklin County Animal Services Director. Because Sec. 6-7 falls under Article I, a finder who ignores the reporting, scanning or posting steps is subject to the general Article I penalty scheme in Sec. 6-81, including the $100.00 civil penalty per violation and potential Class 3 misdemeanor exposure.