Leon Valley staff propose mandatory microchipping and free registration for resident pets to cut kennel costs

City animal‑control staff told council on Nov. 18 they plan to propose ordinance changes and fee‑schedule updates that would make microchipping mandatory in Leon Valley, replace metal pet tags with a registered microchip as the municipal license, and make microchipping and registration free for Leon Valley residents.

Staff said microchips would be entered into a national database (24PetWatch) with no annual fee to the city and that every animal leaving city custody is now microchipped. They argued that when a stray has a microchip the owner can be contacted quickly and the animal returned the same day; staff showed an example of a dog picked up overnight and returned by mid‑afternoon because it was microchipped. By contrast, staff presented a per‑dog cost analysis showing animals without a chip often stay an average of 18 days and may cost the city several hundred dollars in staffing, food, vaccinations and care (staff cited an average of approximately $785 per long‑stay dog vs. ~$55 when return is immediate).

Under the draft approach staff would: give free microchips to residents who bring animals to the city, require registration (with a rabies‑vaccination requirement) and send annual reminders for rabies updates. Non‑resident owners would still be charged a fee (the draft shows $20), but staff would retain discretion to waive or reduce that charge in special cases. Councilors asked about the vendor, annual renewal mechanics, enforcement for dogs that never leave the yard, and the fiscal tradeoffs; staff said the city will run vaccination drives and monitor registration numbers to evaluate the program.

This item was presented as a first read; staff indicated they will bring ordinance and fee‑schedule language to a future agenda for formal action.