Relates to microchipping of certain animals possessed by animal protective associations and rescue organizations

• Democratic1

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Leroy Comrie says this is needed

Household pets are beings with a soul who feel love, hurt and excitement as humans can but they cannot speak for themselves. They need people to speak for them, to protect their welfare and have their best interest in mind. This bill would protect those pets who have in recent years become another member of the family, rather than just a pet. Microchipping provides a channel of communication between animals and humans. The microchip, when scanned provides an identifying number which corresponds to a database with more information like previous owner, phone number and address. For a lost animal this could be the difference between life and death. For example, in a study done by the American Veterinary Medical Association found that three-fourths of stray dogs/cats' owners were found through microchips. The same study also found that lost dogs were reunited with their owners at more than double the overall stray rate. According to ASPCA about 810,000 animals who enter shelters as strays are reunited with their owners. This bill would allow the organizations caring for these animals to microchip them and be identified as an owner or previous caregiver in some capacity alongside any new owner who adopts the animal. If some- thing were to happen to the adoptive person and the animal found itself on the street, by having the last known caregiving organization listed the animal can be sent back to them. By being sent back to the shelter the animal was adopted from, they would be in familiar surroundings and know the staff. Knowing their surroundings and caregivers would decrease fear/ possibly aggressive behavior that can sometimes lead to an animal being euthanized. This bill would also aid the stray population on the streets because those animals would have a place to go. These animal rescue societies were created to help those who can't always help themselves and need a voice. They should be given the resources and allowances needed to fulfill their honorable service to the community. A recent example of how this bill would work is showcased with Titan's story. Titan is a Great Pyrenees who was microchipped by a rescue in 2017 and then adopted out. The rescue was listed as an owner then they added the owner second. Unfortunately, Titan's owner passed away in 2.021 with no other family to care for him, but luckily Titan had the rescue who found him listed in his details in the microchip database and was able to return in hopes of finding a furever home. He has since been adopted and is living happily.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.