Microchipping

A veterinary surgeon, animal welfare agencies like the Dogs Home or RSPCA, or a pet shop can either microchip your dog or provide you with information as to where you can have it microchipped.

The cost of microchipping can vary anywhere between $30 and $70. The cost may also be reduced if the microchipping is carried out in conjunction with other treatments such as vaccinations and desexing.

Your dog will still have to be registered with Council as it allows us to police requirements in relation to the number of animals kept at a premises.

The registration disc that your dog is required to wear enables us to return your dog to you if it becomes lost or strays and is impounded.

Microchipping is a good back-up to ensure that your dog can be identified and returned to you quickly. If your dog is stolen, a collar and registration tag can be easily removed.

However, if the dog is microchipped, and the registry has been advised that it has gone missing or is believed to have been stolen, a veterinary surgeon, animal shelter or council may detect any errors in ownership information if the dog comes to their attention in the future.

• Mandatory microchipping of dogs took effect from 1 July 2011.
• All dogs must be registered from six months of age.

Soon after microchipping you will receive confirmation by mail of the microchipping and a record of the microchip number.

• This is called the Certificate of Identification.
• Some registry operators can provide this information by email.

Please provide Council with this microchip number.

You need to have the microchip registry details altered if any of your contact details change. The Certificate of Identification you receive after your dog has been microchipped should include a Change of Particulars section which can be filled out and sent to the relevant microchip registry.

Some registries provide an online form for this purpose.

The contact details held by the microchip registry will need to be changed if you sell or transfer ownership of a dog.

The registry will need confirmation of the change from both parties.

Microchips are very small – about the size of a grain of rice. The microchip number is stored in a database with details about your pet and your contact details.

Each microchip is individually identifiable through a unique number and can be detected using a microchip scanner. Should your dog stray, veterinary surgeries, animal shelters and councils can scan your dog for its microchip and contact you via the database.

It is important to advise the registry if you move or change other contact details so that you can still be contacted.

Microchips must be put in a standard location. They are placed just under the skin between the shoulder blades at the back of your dog’s neck.

Implanting a microchip is very much like giving your dog a vaccination. Microchipping will only be carried out by an approved implanter who has been trained to carry out the procedure.

It will not cause your dog any discomfort. Microchips are inert – they do not contain chemicals or batteries, don’t have any side effects, and will last the lifetime of your dog.

A veterinary surgeon may exempt a dog from microchipping if he or she considers that it may adversely affect the dog’s health and welfare.