23 June 2006

Waitakere offers micro-chipping for $20

Most dogs and dog owners in Waitakere will not be greatly affected by the new micro-chipping bill passed by Parliament.

From 1 July 2006, all dogs registered in New Zealand for the first time will have to be micro-chipped. This will mainly apply to new puppies born on, just before, or after that date.

Most other dogs will not need to be micro-chipped.

“Waitakere City Council’s Animal Welfare Centre is providing micro-chipping for $20 per dog to residents who wish to have instant identification of their dog,” says Councillor Vanessa Neeson, chairman of the Council’s Planning and Regulatory Committee.

“Unfortunately it will not stop irresponsible owners letting their dogs roam but it will help identify the owners of lost or stolen dogs with the new National Dog Database. It will also be much easier for dog control officers to keep track of dangerous and menacing dogs as they move around the country,” Ms Neeson says.

A microchip, about the size of a grain of rice, is inserted into the scruff of a dog’s neck. It contains a unique number for that dog, providing a secure and reliable way of identifying it for the rest of its life.

As with other injections, micro-chipping is a simple procedure.

After it has been micro-chipped, lost dogs picked up by a dog control officer, or injured and taken to a vet, can be scanned to find out the number.

This can then be checked by the council on the National Dog Database, which will show the owner’s contact details, ensuring a quick reunion for dog and owner.

ENDS

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