IA HF2190

Dogs six months or younger are automatically deemed property; dogs over six months are deemed property only if proof of ownership exists through valid rabies tag, tattoo, microchip, receipt/contract, veterinary records, or documented ownership history.

Shelters must scan dogs' entire bodies for microchips upon intake and again before any adoption, euthanasia, or transfer, with results recorded in disposition records.

In legal ownership disputes, a party providing proof of ownership under the specified methods is presumed to be the owner; challengers must overcome this by preponderance of evidence.

Knowingly misrepresenting dog ownership to law enforcement or in legal proceedings is a simple misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days confinement and fines of $105 to $855.

The bill does not affect existing rabies vaccination requirements for dog owners under Iowa Code sections 351.33 and 351.35.