2015's campaign aims to increase the awareness of benefits and the number of dogs with the implant, and is encouraging all owners to take note of the following:
1. All puppies born from 1st of June 2015 onwards must be microchipped by the age of 12 weeks or before they are moved from their birthplace, whichever is earlier.
2. From March 2016 onwards, all dogs in the Republic of Ireland must be microchipped.
3. If dogs are already microchipped, owners need to check that their contact details are correctly registered on an authorised database.
4. All dog owners need a Certificate of Registration to prove this.
In connection with the campaign, dog owners across the country can avail of free microchipping at participating veterinary practices throughout the month. Owners of dogs already chipped are also being invited to check that their details are correctly registered on an approved database free of charge here.
According to figures released by the Department of the Environment, almost 3,000 dogs were put to sleep in Irish pounds in 2014, many of these were healthy, well-adjusted pets – so make sure your dog is microchipped.
