Why microchip my pet?

1. It’s the law. 

Microchipping is a legal requirement for all pets in NSW. If you don’t have a microchip in your pet, you may be fined by the local council & they can charge you for inserting & registering a new microchip in your pet.

2. It will help lawfully identify your pet as yours.

Should your pet go missing, it could be very difficult for you to be reunited with your pet if it’s brought into a local veterinarian or animal shelter sans microchip. More than anything in the world, we want the lost pet-babies reunited with their humans. Even though, nowadays, people regard their pets as their family, under Australian law, pet animals are deemed property. Like other property (vehicle, l&) microchip/registration is the only way that the local government can identify your pet as your lawful property. 

What is a microchip?

A permanent form of pet identification, each microchip is a unique electronic identification number, detectable by scanning.  The chip is the size of a rice grain, implanted under the skin between the shoulder blades of your pet’s back. It doesn’t hurt or harm your pet after implanting it. If worried, talk to your vet about some mild pain relief given either prior to microchipping or immediately after. 

Key facts:

- Only authorized microchip implanters can perform the procedure, like veterinarians.

- It’s a good idea to have a microchip, a collar & I.D. tag for your pet, should they be lost. 

- It’s illegal to sell a puppy & kitten without a microchip in NSW. 

- Ensure your new pet has ownership transferred into your name, the breeder has a legal obligation to do so. All information about your new pet (vaccinations, certificate if purebred, microchip number) should be provided to you. 

- Having your pet microchipped & registry kept up to date will hasten your pet’s return if it's lost.

Common questions:

Q: “I don’t know if my dog’s got a microchip.”

A: Easy-peasy! Ask your local vet hospital if they can check for a microchip. If so, ask for the number so you can check the registry details. You may need to provide proof of ownership. If your pet doesn’t have a microchip inserted, then make an appointment to have this done with your vet. Very rarely, a microchip is faulty & doesn’t work. In this instance, talk to your vet about having a new chip inserted.

Q: “What if I need to update info, like the owner details?”

A: It’s very common for a pet’s details not to be up to date. Owner Information on a registry is very important, just like any other property. If you can’t get in touch with the previous owner or breeder for transfer of ownership on the registry, then ask your vet to help verify the microchip (bring identification to help verify your ID & ownership if possible), and have this form provided to your local council to update owner information for your pet.

Microchip registry database

In NSW the Pet Registry office website is www.petregistry.nsw.gov.au

Every state has its own pet registry office, so if you move interstate you must re-register your pet with the pet registry (local government) in that state.

Need to talk more about microchipping or booking in your pet? Just book online or phone during hospital times. visit mittagongvet.com.au 

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