Microchip for dogs a must

July 25, 2020 Metro BLISTT

The city government’s mandatory registration through microchipping of dogs three months of age and over will start this November aimed at establishing the pets’ ownership and for other purposes.
This was announced by city veterinary and agriculture office (CVAO) head Dr. Brigit Piok, July 20, during the City Hall flagraising rites led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Rep. Mark Go and Vice-Mayor Faustino Olowan.
Piok said that microchipping will not only establish the dog’s ownership but will also make it easier for authorities to contact the owner in cases when their dogs are impounded or have bitten someone.
Piok said the registration and microchipping will cost P300 per dog and will include the pet owner’s name, address, contact numbers, and brief description of their canine.
The program is anchored on city ordinance number 60, series of 2020, adopted by the august body on June 1 and approved June 8 by the Mayor. It states that “No person shall own or keep any dog three months of age without first having been registered with the CVAO or during mass registration organized by the barangay.
The registration certificate shall be issued after the dog has been microchipped.”
The issued registration certificate shall be permanent or until the lifetime of the dog except in cases of transfer of ownership. The owner or keeper of any dog required by the measure to be registered shall no longer be required to provide a dog tag.
“In case of death of the registered/microchipped dog, the owner shall be required to inform the barangay who shall then inform the CVAO within five days for proper recording.
In case of transfer or change of ownership, the owner shall within reasonable time but not exceeding ten days, bring the dog to the CVAO for proper identification and change of registration where a fee of P250 shall be paid by the new owner,” the ordinance states.
Piok said that absence of a microchip on a pet dog over three months of age will automatically mean none registration and considered in violation of the measure.
Gaby Keith / PIO Baguio