Illinois bill bars dangerous dog adoptions, forces behavior disclosures

(The Center Square) – An Illinois proposal would require shelters and rescues to register pet microchips in a national database before dogs and cats are adopted.

Microchips are already a standard requirement for pets adopted from shelters and rescue organizations in Illinois. Animals must be implanted with a microchip before leaving the facility, and adopters typically pay the cost as part of the adoption fee.

Supporters say Senate Bill 2891 would close gaps that currently make it difficult to reunite lost pets with their owners.

Lauren Malmberg, with the Illinois Animal Control Association, said animals are often implanted with microchips before adoption but the chips are frequently never registered or are registered to the shelter rather than the adopter.

“What’s currently happening is animals are getting microchips, but they’re not getting registered,” Malmberg said. “Or if they’re getting registered, they’re being registered to the entity that adopted them out and not the person they’re living with.”

Witho...