A bill introduced in the Georgia House would require veterinarians to scan animals under their care for the presence of a microchip and contact law enforcement if the chip does not match the information of the person presenting the dog for treatment.
House Bill 886 by State Representatives Andy Welch, David Knight, and Tom McCall, seeks to require vets to first scan all animals in their care for microchips and then file reports with the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, an animal control officer, a law enforcement agency, or a prosecuting attorney if the microchip information is not the same as the person who brought the animal in for care.
The bill would also give veterinarians the authority to testify in any judicial or administrative proceeding concerning ownership and treatment of the animal, while granting the veterinarian civil and criminal immunity for doing so.
The language of the bill makes no mention of veterinary discretion or exceptions in instances of emergencies, friends or family, or a person acting in good faith.
HB 886 has been assigned to the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.
You can read the language of the bill below.
HB 886
