HOUSTON -- The city of Houston has changed its policy regarding checking stray animals for microchips, two years after a KPRC Local 2 Troubleshooter investigation showed that the animal bureau did not.

Cindy Perini thought she had lost her dog, Steal, for good when it wound up at the city shelter last month.

Even though Perini said Steal had lost his tags, he had identification.

"He has a microchip. It was sheer luck that the dog is alive today. We got him about an hour before he would have been dead," she said.

At the time, the city pound did not check for microchip implants, which contains an owner's information. The county pound and half of the shelters in Houston scan for microchips when an animal is brought in.

So, why wasn't the city checking? Even Mayor Bill White said he was stumped.

"To me, it was a no-brainer," White said.

Thanks to the Troubleshooters story and a new team of officials at the Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care, also known as BARC, the policy changed.

"We will be scanning every dog and every cat when it is brought into the shelter," said Cynda Lewis, with BARC.

The city purchased 11 universal scanners and began training all BARC employees on how to use them.

It's already paid off. Workers found one chip while practicing.

"If we identify any animals through scanning, that's a good thing," Lewis said.

In addition to being scanned when they enter the pound, the animals will also be scanned before they are euthanized or adopted.

BARC said that they are investigating the costs of implanting chips in all animals adopted at the shelter.

For pet owners who want to get a microchip implanted in their animals, the BARC Web site lists low-cost chipping events throughout the city.

More Information:

City of Houston Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care
Home Again ID
Avid MicroChip ID