Wichita now requires all dogs and cats to be microchipped. See what else is changing

All Wichita dog and cat owners will now be required to microchip their furry friends after a City Council vote during a 10-hour-long meeting Tuesday.

Now, owners are required to microchip their dogs and cats 5 months and older. A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted between the pet’s shoulder blades. The microchip includes a code with the owner’s information, but does not have tracking capabilities.

The Animal Services Advisory board formed a committee last year to improve animal control ordinances in Wichita. The recommendations were first presented to the council in a workshop earlier this year.

“We think it would help get animals back into their homes when animals are found running the streets,” assistant city attorney Jan Jarman said at the April 23 workshop. “If every animal was required to have a microchip, it would help us keep them out of the shelter, which is our goal, and we think we could implement that.”

The new changes to the city’s animal ordinance also increases dog bite fines and increases the number of dogs and cats allowed in a home without an animal maintenance permit.

Additionally, dog licenses are now $50 for dogs who are not spayed or neutered, an increase of $15. Cat licenses are still not required in Wichita.

“Licensing isn’t ready for that, we’re not very good right now at licensing dogs, we need to get a lot better,” Jarman said at Tuesday’s council meeting. “We are not ready for cats. Hopefully someday in the future if the council wants to see us do cats, we can do that, but for now we’re only ready for dogs.”

Now, three dogs and three cats are allowed in a home without an animal maintenance permit. Pit bull owners are still limited to two pit bulls per household.

Dog bite penalties have increased from $250 to $500 for first offense, $500 to $1,000 for second offense and from $1,000 to $2,500 for third offense. The fine is per defendant, not per dog.

Here’s a list of other changes approved on Tuesday:

• Dogs can now be licensed for three years, depending on required vaccines.
• Removes the mandatory pen requirement for dogs deemed dangerous and leaves that decision up to animal services.
• Allows animal professionals to care for dangerous dogs.
• Allowing dogs to run at large is now considered a misdemeanor

The pet ordinance changes passed unanimously.