Microchipping
Our pet microchipping services are back by appointment only. San Antonio residents who live within City limits can obtain FREE pet microchips (includes lifetime registration), there will be a $5 service fee per pet for out of city residents. Appointments can be made at: saacs.info/microchip
Lost pets with a microchip have a significantly higher chance of returning home when brought into a veterinary clinic or shelter.
New Microchip Law Key Points
- All dogs, cats, ferrets residing in San Antonio city limits must have a registered microchip.
- Registered microchip must show current ownership information including:
- Owner name, address, phone number (if available) and the description of the pet
- Microchips do not need to be registered with the City or ACS; microchips only need to be registered with microchip manufacturer.
- A current city license (the metal Texas-shaped tag) shall continue to be valid until its expiration.
- An annual permit shall be required (in addition to a registered microchip) for pets deemed as aggressive or dangerous
- The owner of the pet is responsible for ensuring that the microchip is registered with current information.
- Microchips purchased from ACS with be automatically registered to the owner purchasing the chip and comes with free lifetime registration.
- If there is a change in pet ownership, the previous and the current owner are both responsible for ensuring the microchip is updated with new owner's information.
- Dogs MUST wear a tag with the registered microchip number at all times while outdoors.
- Microchips generally come with a tag from the microchip manufacturer with pet's respective microchip number engraved on it. If that tag is lost or misplaced, any tag with the microchip number associated with that pet worn on the pet's collar or harness will be considered in compliance with the law. For example, if a pet's official tag from the microchip company is lost or misplaced, an owner may go to any local pet store to purchase a tag and have it engraved with the pet's microchip number for a low-cost.
- All dogs and cats of an owner must have registered microchips prior to the City issuing an excess animal permit.
- Exemptions to a registered microchip include:
- A non-resident to the City but keeping the pet in the City for fewer than 60 days.
- Owner has been a resident of the City fewer than 30 days.
- Pet has been abandoned or lost and the temporary owner has had the pet fewer than 30 days.
- Medical exemption from licensed veterinarian
For more information on the updated Microchip Ordinance, please visit the City's Chapter 5 Animal Laws.
Microchip Manufacturer Information
Unsure of who is the manufacturer of your pet's microchip is? Most animal shelters, veterinary clinics, and spay/neuter clinics have universal microchip scanners that will be able to scan your pet. The microchip scanner will pick up a unique ID number and corresponding manufacturer based on the type of microchip number scanned.
Please visit AAHA Pet Microchip Lookup to see which company/service the particular chip is registered with. Chips can be registered with different companies.
Manufacturer
|
Phone Number
|
Scanner Read
|
HomeAgain
|
1.888.466.3242
|
10-digit alpha numeric code
15-digit numeric code
(beginning with 985)
|
AVID
|
1.800.336.2843
|
AVID*___*___*___
9-digit alpha numeric code
|
AVID Euro
|
1.800.336.2843
|
10-digit alpha numeric code
|
AKC
|
1-800-252-7894
|
TR___-___-___
10-digit alpha numeric code
15-digit numeric code
(beginning with 956)
|
24PetWatch
|
1.866.597.2424
|
10-digit alpha numeric code
15-digit numeric code
(beginning with 982)
|
Bayer ResQ
|
1.877.738.5465
|
15-digit numeric code (beginning with 0D0D)
|
Banfield
|
1.877.567.8738
|
10-digit alpha numeric code
(beginning with 0D0D)
15-digit numeric code
(beginning with 98101)
|
Animal Care Services currently uses FoundAnimals Registry chips. For more information see the below flyers.