Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §3907, sub-§9-A, ¶¶A and C, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 363, §1, are amended to read:

A. A registered microchip used in conjunction with a visible collar and tag, with a faceted, reflective ear stud or a tipped or notched ear;

C. A collar and tag providing the name and address of the animal shelter or veterinary facility that issued the tag.

Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §3919-A, first ¶, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 363, §3, is amended to read:

An animal shelter to which a cat is taken may accept the cat unless the shelter is in quarantine. An animal shelter accepting a cat shall scan the cat for microchip identification using a universal scanner and shall comply with the provisions of this section.

SUMMARY

The bill deletes the current requirement for microchip identification of a stray cat accepted at an animal shelter only when the cat is also wearing a collar or has a notched or studded ear. Microchip scanning is now readily available and affordable technology and would under this provision be required of all shelters accepting stray cats.