The Hawaii State Legislature passed a statewide law that says all pets must be microchipped in 2022. 

What You Need To Know

  • A statewide law goes into effect on New Year's Day that says all dogs and cats must be microchipped

  • A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice, and it is inserted below the animal’s skin between the shoulders 

  • The microchip can be scanned and sends voicemail, text and email alerts to the pet’s owner

  • It costs $20 to microchip an animal at the Hawaiian Humane Society on Oahu

The legislature said that one in three pets will become lost during their lifetimes and that 90% of these furry friends will not return home unless the pet is microchipped. 

Across the U.S, 1,500,000 stray animals are euthanized at shelters every year, and the legislature said microchips can save many of these pets. 

A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice, and it is inserted below the animal’s skin between the shoulders in a procedure that is similar to getting a vaccination. The microchip lasts for a pet’s life and contains a unique number that can be scanned, sending voicemail, text and email alerts to the pet’s owner — it does not have a GPS signal. 

If the contact of a pet owner changes or the owner changes, they must update their information online with the microchip company within 30 days. 

It costs $20 to microchip an animal at the Hawaiian Humane Society on Oahu. Microchipping is also available at most veterinary clinics. 

Until the end of 2021, the Humane Society has a program that allows cats or dogs to get microchipped for only $10 at their institution, as well as the Animal House Veterinary Center, Kapolei Pet Hospital, VCA Family & Oahu Veterinary Specialty Center, Waianae Veterinary Clinic, Blue Cross Animal Hospital, Ohana Veterinary Hospital and Kakaako Pet Hospital.

In 2020, the Honolulu City and County updated their rules to require microchipping in dogs and cats. 

The Hawaiian Humane Society strongly encourages all pets to also wear visible identification tags. On Oahu, cats that are allowed outdoors are required to wear a collar with an ID tag.