All Las Vegas Dogs And Cats Must Now Be Microchipped

Animal lovers in Las Vegas, listen up. Things are changing -- in a very good way.

Very soon, all dogs and cats in the City of Las Vegas will be required to have microchips. The Las Vegas City Council unanimously passed the ordinance. Finally!

I've found so many stray dogs and cats over the 30 years I've lived in Las Vegas. And rarely has an animal been chipped, which is very frustrating. Hard to get an animal back to its owner without a chip, or collar.

But collars can fall off. Microchips cannot.

Lori Heeren, Executive Director of the Las Vegas NSPCA, told me that Las Vegas is one of the "worst cities in the country" for stray pets. Which is why shelters in Las Vegas are so overcrowded. Microchipping can help rectify that.

According to the new ordinance, beginning August 1, 2024, all dogs or cats over the age of four months old, living in the city of Las Vegas will have to have a microchip.

Owners will then be required to register their contact information and microchip numbers with the microchip registration company,  and Animal Protection Services animal pet licensing program.

If the animal's owners change, the chip information will have to be changed within 30 days.

Breeders will also be required to follow the rules, and obey the ordinance. And all dogs and cats offered for sale must be microchipped before being sold, or taken to a pet shop to sell.

City officials say that those violating the ordinance will be charged with a misdemeanor, and may be punished by a fine of up to $1,000, and up to six months in jail. They are very serious about this.

City officials, and the Animal Protective Services team will have programs to encourage microchipping, and help owners with chipping their pets.

Do you have questions on microchipping? Here is a list of frequently asked questions that might help. Just know that microchipping is quick, easy, and NOT painful for your fur babies.

The black cat has gotten a really bad rap over the years. Some say the superstition against them has been around since the medieval period. But why? A few of them were in the wrong place at the wrong time? That forever linked their descendants to bad luck? Not cool. Also not universal. Black cats are actually good luck in some countries. There's a superstition in England that says giving  one to a couple on their wedding day will bring the marriage good luck. A married couple with a black cat is expected to have a long and happy life together. The superstition also says that the cat in the home will scare away evil spirits. Japan has a similar positive connection to black cats and love. Their tradition is that a single woman who has a one will have her choice of suitors to pick from. Japan also has beliefs that a black cat will bring wealth and prosperity. French culture carries a similar belief.

And Russia takes the cake on cats being good luck for financial success. According to foreignpolicy.com, there is a bank in Russia that will loan you a cat for two hours when you sign mortgage papers. The new homeowners are supposed to let the cat walk across their new threshold for good luck. The cat can be any color, even black. The bank owners believe a feline crossing the threshold will ensure the new borrowers will return the bank's money with no issues. So a black cat in Russia is not only good luck, but banked on for good prosperity. See what I did there?

Superstitions or not, we think black cats make AMAZING pets. If you've never considered getting one, here are a few reasons we think you should.

The contrast of a black cat's dark coat with their bright eyes is gorgeous. Many have yellow eyes but there are some with blue as well. Also, their coats, when well cared-for, shine in a way cats of other colors just don't.

If you have ever owned a pet, you know those vet bills can add up. Well there's a little-known secret that black cats are more disease-resilient than cats of other colors. That could mean less money out of your pocket.

Black cats are great at camouflaging at night. And Las Vegas residents know coyotes in these parts are getting worse and worse. Your little black fur baby has a better chance at eluding these predators than their kitty counterparts.

This is where that bad black kitty stigma is a good thing. Because some people are superstitious against them, they're not as likely to get stolen if they're out wandering around. And some people swear they actually scare off would-be home invaders too.

There aren't many breeds of domestic cat that mimics the coloring of their wild counterparts. The black cat is one of the few who actually look like a mini version of a big cat. And let's face it...with Min Pins and Teacup Poodles, aren't minis where it's at these days? When someone asks what kind of cat you have, you can say "A Min Pan" (mini pather). :D