Microchipping

All pet dogs first registered after 2006 are now required to be microchipped. Many cat and rabbit owners are routinely microchipping their pets too. 

Microchipping provides a permanent way of identifying your animal, even if they lose their collar. Veterinary clinics, animal shelters and district councils have microchip scanners that allow them to obtain your animal's microchip number.

Dog owners must provide the council with their microchip details, and can choose to also put their pet on the New Zealand Companion Animal Register website. Registration on this website is a good idea as it allows animals to be identified anywhere in the country. Cat and rabbit owners can only register microchips on this website. By having them loaded on this national database we will be able to find your phone number to call you immediately if your animal is found.

Contrary to some beliefs a microchip is not a tracking device and does not contain any further information apart from the animal's ID number. This is why the database records are essential.

Inserting a microchip is quick and easy, and can be performed either within a consultation or when your animal is already under anaesthesia, such as at desexing. It involves injecting a small chip under the skin.

 

For more information on:

The companion animal register website: https://www.animalregister.co.nz/owner-information/owner-faq-s.html

Microchip pet doors and feeders: https://www.surepetcare.com/en-nz