A cat is checked with a microchip reader in Tokyo on August 12, 2022.Implanting a microchip in pet dogs and cats and registering the owner's contact information became mandatory in June 2022 under the revised Law on Welfare and Management of Animals. Breeders and pet shops are required to implant a microchip in dogs and cats before they are sold. The aim of the new regulation is to prevent owners from easily abandoning their pets, help owners reunite with lost pets and reduce the number of stray animals put down.( The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images )