Should The City of Lubbock Require Pet Owners To Microchip Their Pets?

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If you've lived in Lubbock any length of time you know that we have a problem with stray dogs and cats. The Lubbock Animal Shelter seems to be full much of the time and other non-profit organizations stay close to full as well.

Everyday on social media you see people posting either about their lost dogs or cats or that they found a dog or cat walking about the neighborhood. And sadly some people just dump dogs out in the country.

Is the answer forced microchipping? One city in Texas believes the answer to cutting down on lost animals is to force all dogs and cats to be microchipped.

The City of Houston now has an ordinance that requires pets, both dogs and cats, to be vaccinated for rabies and to be chipped. This has to be done to all pets by the time they are four months old according to the Houston Chronicle.

Houston City Council passed an ordinance in 2022 to require any resident in the city that owns a dog or a cat at least four months old to be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. The year-long grace period ends Wednesday as the law goes into effect. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner reminded residents in a Houston City Council meeting on Wednesday morning.

"Please get your pets chipped, and let's move forward," Turner said.

What happens if your pet isn't microchipped? Fines anywhere from $100 to $500.

So, should the City of Lubbock look into a similar ordinance?

Personally, I would be against such a move and I don't think it would lead to the results Houston think it will.

That being said. Get you pet microchipped. If they do get loose, there is a good chance they will make their way back to you.