Section 143-2.2 - Microchip identification(a) An owner shall have a microchip implanted in the owner's dog or cat, and the owner shall register the microchip number and the owner's contact information with a microchip registration company.(b) When the contact information of the owner of a dog or cat changes, the owner shall provide the new contact information to the applicable microchip registration company no later than thirty days after the change in contact information occurs.(c) When the owner of a dog or cat transfers ownership to another owner: (1) The former owner shall inform the new owner of the microchip registration company with which the dog's or cat's microchip is registered; and(2) The new owner shall provide the microchip registration company with the new owner's contact information no later than thirty days after the transfer of ownership occurs.(d) Each animal control contractor or nonprofit animal rescue organization shall implant a microchip in all stray dogs and cats in its custody that do not have a microchip.(e) All animal control contractors shall activate the microchip registration company's found pet alerts to notify owners whose pets' microchips are registered with that company if the pet is found and the owner is not present.(f) Veterinary clinics, animal shelters, and other animal rescue organizations that scan found pets for microchips shall release only the chip identification number to the finder upon request.(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to animals being cared for as part of a designated population management program.(h) As used in this section, "owner" means any person owning, harboring, or keeping a dog or cat; providing care or sustenance for a dog or cat; or having custody of a dog or cat, whether temporarily or permanently. "Owner" does not include the animal quarantine branch or plant quarantine branch of the department of agriculture."Added by L 2021SP1, c 5,§ 2, eff. 1/1/2022.