Evansville Eliminates Pet Tags In Favor Of Microchips

Pet owners in Evansville will soon need to make sure their animals have a microchip after the Evansville City Council unanimously approved an update to the city’s Animal Control Ordinance.

The new rule eliminates the long-standing requirement for city license tags and replaces it with a requirement that dogs, cats, and ferrets within city limits be microchipped.

According to Evansville Animal Care and Control, the change is meant to improve pet safety and make it easier to reunite lost animals with their owners.

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Evansville Replacing Pet License Tags With Microchips

Under the previous ordinance, residents were required to purchase city license tags for pets. However, animal control officers say they rarely find stray animals still wearing those tags.

Tags can also fall off or become caught on objects, sometimes causing injuries to pets.

Microchips, which are small identification devices placed under a pet’s skin, provide a more permanent and reliable way to identify animals.

When a lost pet is found, shelters, rescues, or veterinarians can scan the chip and quickly access the owner’s contact information.

Helping Lost Pets Get Home Faster

Animal Care and Control officials say the goal of the new ordinance is simple: help pets get home faster if they become lost.

Accidents happen. Gates don't always latch, pets can quickly slip outside, and animals sometimes wander farther than expected.

Read More: New Indiana Law Increases Penalties For Animal Abuse

Microchips also provide proof of ownership if a pet is stolen or if identification is questioned.

Many shelters and rescue organizations already microchip pets before adoption, so the ordinance ensures all pets in Evansville receive the same level of protection.

Officials say the change should not cost residents additional money and may even save some pet owners money compared to the previous $10 lifetime license tag requirement.

The ordinance is intended to strengthen responsible pet ownership while giving animal control officers a better tool to reunite lost pets with their families.