Multnomah County strongly encourages microchipping all dogs and cats and offers low-cost chips through MCAS, though Portland does not yet mandate microchips citywide for all pets.
Portland and Multnomah County rely on microchipping as the primary tool for reuniting lost pets with owners. MCAS scans every impounded animal and contacts the registered owner before placing the animal for adoption. Many local rescues require chipping as a condition of adoption, and chips are mandatory for dogs declared dangerous under Title 13. Owners are responsible for keeping registration data current with the chip registry. State law (ORS 87.159) gives veterinarians a lien for unpaid chipping services, reinforcing the practice without creating a citywide mandate for routine pets.
There is no flat fine for an unchipped pet, but unchipped dogs declared dangerous violate Title 13, and unchipped impounds face higher reclaim fees and longer holding times.
See how Portland's microchipping rules stack up against other locations.
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