The new rule is officially going into effect after the Houston City Council passed an ordinance last year. Initially, there was a year-long grace period for enforcing the microchipping requirement, but that ends on Feb. 1.
READ MORE: Houston pet owners will be required to microchip cats and dogs
It's part of a three-step process to completing a pet registration with the city.
The City of Houston Municipal Code requires that anyone who owns, keeps, possesses, or has control of a dog or cat that's at least 4 months old must have their pet registered, microchipped and vaccinated against rabies every year.
BARC, Houston's animal shelter and adoption center, is offering free microchips from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Jan 31, Feb. 6 and Feb. 7. BARC is located at 3300 Carr St.
The city says the microchips help animal control return your pet to you if it's lost.