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Rosenberg council backs plan to replace pet registration with microchipping, asks staff to protect affordability
Summary
Councilors signaled support for replacing the city's pet-registration requirement with mandatory microchipping for owned dogs and cats, provided the policy does not increase costs for residents; staff said the city charges $20 for a microchip under the current fee schedule and often offers free microchipping events.
City animal services staff proposed replacing Rosenberg's current pet-registration requirement with a mandatory microchipping program for owned dogs and cats inside city limits, and councilors indicated conditional support so long as the requirement does not impose higher costs on residents.
Omar (animal services staff) told the council the council-approved fee schedule currently lists microchipping at $20, while registration fees in the packet were $1 for altered animals and $10 for unaltered animals per year. "Currently, through the council approved schedule of fees, the registration fees for the city are a dollar for spayed and neutered animals versus $10 for an unaltered animal, and that's yearly," Omar said, and "as far as microchipping goes... the city right now has an approved schedule fees for microchipping, which is $20."
Councilmember Jessica said she could live with a microchipping requirement if it replaced the registration requirement and remained affordable; other members asked staff to ensure outreach and free or low-cost microchipping events continue so residents would not be deterred from pet ownership.
Next steps: staff will refine draft ordinance language to show microchipping as a replacement for registration, include proposed fee language and exemptions or low-cost options, and return the item for formal consideration.
