Microchipping is the safe and professional way to identify an animal. While collars may fall off and identification tags may get lost, a microchip stays with your pet for life. Each microchip contains a personal, one-of-a-kind identification number that associates an animal as part of a family. The personal information connected to each chip includes the animal’s guardian, veterinarian's information, alternate contact and the animal's personal information.

The microchip is less than the size of a grain of rice and is completely harmless. Just like a vaccination, the microchip is injected under the skin of an animal (typically in the scruff of the neck) where it remains safely for life.

All animals admitted to an L.A. Animal Services Shelter are scanned for a microchip upon arrival. If a microchip is detected, a nine digit number will appear and we will contact the microchip manufacturer-AVID's 24 Hour hotline. After a quick search of the PETract database, the animal's guardian can be contacted.

All cat and dogs adopted from an L.A. Animal Services Shelter that do not already have a microchip, will be implanted with one. The cost of microchipping is a non-refundable fee of $15.00 paid by the new adopter.

If the animal’s guardian moves, there is a re-registration fee of $6.00 to update the appropriate information.

The general public also may contact any of our L.A. Animal Services Shelters and schedule an appointment to have their companion animal microchipped. The cost for the general public is $25.00 per animal.

Microchip FAQs

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