Howard County, IN Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)

02(A) requires anyone who owns a dog or cat in the unincorporated area to make sure the animal bears a permanent means of identification at all times, on top of whatever rabies or registration tags state law already requires. Division (B) gives owners two ways to comply: a microchip implanted in the dog or cat that carries a registered identification number readable by a standard microchip scanner, or a permanent tag attached to a durable collar worn at all times and bearing the owner's name, address, and telephone number.

02(B)(3), every veterinarian who implants a microchip must send the updated microchip information to the Department of Animal Services, or another entity the county designates, at least once a month, which keeps the county's identification records current even when an owner does not report the chip directly. 06 requires notifying an owner within three days of impoundment when the animal wears identification, and an unidentified stray loses that notice period and can be treated as an unclaimed impoundment sooner. 01's public nuisance definition, which separately lists an animal lacking permanent identification as a nuisance factor. The identification requirement was adopted by Ordinance 2008-BCC-06, passed February 18, 2008.