ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session
	House: GE DP 13-0-0-0 | 3^rd Read 46-12-2-0 Senate: GOV DPA 7-0-0-0 | 3^rd Read 26-1-3-0 Final Pass: 42-15-3-0

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HB 2626: animal handling; microchip scan

Sponsor: Representative Kavanagh, LD 23

Transmitted to the Governor

Overview

Requires the scanning of a dog or cat, in specified situations, for the presence of a microchip and a reasonable effort to be made to contact the owner.

History

The county board of supervisors in each county may provide or authorize a county pound to enter into a cooperative agreement with a city, a veterinarian or an Arizona incorporated humane society in order to establish and operate a county pound.  Any stray dog must be impounded and all dogs and cats that are impounded must be given proper care and maintenance (A.R.S. § 11-1013).

Provisions

1. Stipulates that a city or town must require an employee, contractor or subcontractor that has contracted with the city or town to remove deceased cats and dogs from a public place to thoroughly scan for the presence of a microchip and make a reasonable effort to contact the owner before disposing of the cat or dog if the disposal will be at a landfill. (Sec. 1)

2. Requires all dogs and cats to be thoroughly scanned for the presence of a microchip and reasonable effort made to contact the owner upon being impounded at a county pound, city or town facility, a veterinarian or an Arizona incorporated humane society. (Sec. 2)

3. Asserts that all deceased dogs and cats must be thoroughly scanned for the presence of a microchip and reasonable effort made to contact the owner when found in a public place and brought to a county pound, city or town facility, a veterinarian or an Arizona incorporated humane society. (Sec. 2)

4. Removes references to destroy when related to dogs and cats and replaces the term with euthanize. (Sec. 2-5)

5. Directs a veterinarian to thoroughly scan for the presence of a microchip for all stray dogs and cats brought to a veterinary premises and make reasonable efforts to contact the owner. (Sec. 6)

6. Instructs a crematory licensee to do the following for all dogs and cats brought to a crematory by a person other than the owner:

a) Thoroughly scan the dogs and cats for the presence of a microchip; and

b) Make a reasonable effort to contact the owner, unless there is written or electronic record indicating that the dog or cat has been thoroughly scanned for the presence of a microchip and reasonable effort made to contact the owner. (Sec. 7)

7. Specifies that an animal shelter must thoroughly scan for the presence of a microchip in the dog or cat and make a reasonable effort to contact the owner when taking possession of a dog or cat and defines animal shelter as in statute. (Sec. 8)

8. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 2-5)

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                        HB 2626

Initials SJ        Page 0 Transmitted

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