News Q&A: Dog chipping becomes compulsory today

Dog chipping becomes compulsory for all dogs aged over 12 weeks in Ireland from today. Every microchip contains a unique 15-digit number.

When you register with an authorised database, this number will be recorded, along with your name and address details.

This means that if your dog goes missing and is found, you can be identified and reunited with your dog.

A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and can only be implanted by a vet, a veterinary nurse or a person who has been trained by one of the authorised database organisations.

Why are the microchipping of dogs regulations 2015 being brought in?

The microchipping scheme is a successful way of reuniting owners with lost or stolen pets. It will relieve the pressure on animal charities and dog pounds by significantly reducing the amount of time they need to house dogs while the owner is located.

It will also protect the welfare of dogs by promoting responsible dog ownership.

It will deter abandonment of dogs, and assist in identifying marauding dogs, and those that threaten livestock or people.

Microchipping databases issue an ownership certificate which allows owners to ensure registered details relating to their dog are correct. The cert is also needed for transfer of ownership. Purchasers should not buy or accept a dog without a certificate.

What is a microchip?

A microchip is a tiny device about the size of a grain of rice. It is inserted using a sterile needle under the dog’s skin between the shoulder blades.

The microchip is encased in a special bio-compatible glass, the same material used in human pacemakers, which is accepted by the dog’s body and fuses with the bodily tissue so it does not move around.

The microchip has no power supply or moving parts. It is inert and biocompatible. There is virtually no chance of the body developing an allergy or trying to reject the microchip after being implanted. Microchips contain a unique 15-digit numerical code which must be registered alongside the owner’s details, on an authorised database.

What do I need to do to ensure my dog is legally compliant?

Your dog will need to be microchipped and registered with an authorised database. This is a two-step process: microchip and register.

Compliance with the legislation requires completion of both steps.

The registration should be contemporaneous with the microchipping.

Why does my dog need to be microchipped and registered? I thought it was just about microchipping?

The microchip contains a unique 15-digit number. Therefore, your details will need to be stored alongside the chip details, so that you can be contacted should your dog be found. If your details change, if you move house for example, you will be required to update the details on the database.

Which databases are authorised?

An up-to-date list of databases is maintained by the Department of Agriculture (see the dog microchipping section of agriculture.gov.ie).

Can I chip my own dogs?

No, you may not do so.

If you do, this is an offence punishable by a fine of up to €5,000 and/or six months jail upon summary conviction.

However, the regulations contain an exemption in relation to dog welfare charities which allows them to chip and register dogs in their own care.

Can my dog be located remotely by using its microchip?

No, the microchip contains no power source and cannot emit a signal unless scanned at close quarters.

Is it painful for my dog?

The procedure is no more painful than a standard vaccination. Anaesthetic is not required.

I have already had my dog microchipped? Do I need to do it again?

No, you do not, provided that the microchip is technically compliant and your details are registered with an authorised database. It is often the case that dogs which are currently chipped are either not registered or are registered in a previous owner’s name, often a dog breeder. Dog owners who have their dogs currently chipped should check that their details are up to date and correct.

What age does a dog have to be chipped at?

A microchip can be implanted in a dog of any age. Legally, they must be chipped by the time they are 12 weeks old, but they can be chipped earlier than that.

Do I still need a dog licence?

Yes.

Why isn’t the dog licence attached to the microchip?

While the two systems could potentially be linked in the future, this is not the case now.

I bought a dog which is registered on one database but want it registered on another database because it has all my other dogs registered on it. Is this possible?

Yes it is. Both databases are legally required to facilitate this. You may be charged a fee for creating a new registration on the databases you have chosen.

This sounds very expensive, I am not sure I can afford it?

The cost of dog microchipping has been falling, and the market is now very competitive.

It is often offered by vets as part of an extensive package deal to new dog owners along with services such as vaccination.

The cost of microchipping and registration is a tiny proportion of the cost of caring for and feeding a dog.

The government is not providing free microchips to dog owners, but it is supporting dog-welfare charities to promote and subsidise dog microchipping.