Microchipping is a permanent form of identification for your pet. Inserting a microchip is like a vaccination, it only takes a few seconds. The procedure is very safe and your pet will feel little pain. Once done, your pet’s details, and your contact address & phone numbers are entered on a national database.
Why do we recommend microchips?
Collars can fall off or be removed & details on pet tags can fade or become outdated. Inserting a microchip means your pet can be easily identified by a ranger, animal shelter or veterinarian regardless of the situation. Once identified, you can be contacted immediately and informed of the location of your pet.
If your pet has been stolen and then later recovered, ownership of your pet can be challenged. Microchipping is the only way you can prove ownership of your pet (and yes this does happen).
From 1st November 2013, all new dogs are required to be microchipped for the purpose of identification and registration. Registered dogs that are transferred to new owners after 1 November 2013 will need to be microchipped before they are sold or transferred.
If you already own a dog, he/ she must be microchipped by 1st November 2015.
From 1 November 2013, the full Cat Act 2011 requires all cats that have reached 6 months of age to be:
- Microchipped;
- Sterilised; and
- Registered with the relevant local government.
Cats will be required to wear a collar and registration tag to ensure that owned cats can be easily identified and returned to their owner.
What happens if your pet strays?
If your pet is ever lost, a ranger, animal shelter or veterinarian anywhere in Australia can scan your pet for a microchip and access your contact details.
The only way that you may not become reunited with your lost pet is if you don’t contact the register when you have changed your address or contact phone numbers.
Who to contact if you change address
If you change address or telephone number, it is your responsibility to contact a national registry and update your contact details. If you are not sure who your pet is registered with, you can find out through Pet Address at www.petaddress.com.au
If your pet was implanted with a microchip by our practice, you should contact the Petsafe via their website and enter your pet’s details.
To do this:
- Go to www.petsafe.com.au
- Click on the ‘Register a pet’ link
- Click on the link for new registrations
- Enter the microchip number, owner and pet details as prompted and pay online direct to the registry.
Attention pet owners who have recently moved from NSW
Pets with a microchip implanted in NSW are required by law to be registered on a state based register known as the NSW “Companion Animal Registry” (see www.petregistry.nsw.gov.au). This state based database is not linked to any national register. It is not compulsory in NSW to register a pet’s microchip on a national registry. Therefore if you have recently moved from NSW to our state we strongly recommend checking www.petadress.com.au to see if your pet has been registered on a national database. If your pet’s details are not recognised, please contact a national register such as Petsafe and complete a registration form.  If you do not know your pet’s microchip number and visit our practice please contact us for further information.
How do you have your pet microchipped?
We can insert a Microchip during a normal veterinary consultation. Please contact us for an appointment or for more information.
For more information visit www.vetwest.com.au/microchip
