A microchip is a transponder or RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device). It is a tiny chip with a unique identification number programmed into it and enclosed in a cylinder of biologically compatible material.

Once the chip is injected under the skin of the pet, the unique number can identify your pet throughout their life once registered on an approved Database such as Animark. The chip cannot be lost or easily removed and hence provides a secure method for protecting your pet against theft.

Apart from it being a legal requirement for dogs, the microchip contains a unique number which makes it the best way of identifying you as the pet’s owner should your pet ever get lost.

Many pets escape from their homes through open doors, gates, etc. and find themselves lost in unfamiliar surroundings. Unfortunately, with the rise in pet ownership and the cost of dogs in particular, pet theft is a serious concern and a daily occurrence. If a lost pet is found and he or she is not microchipped, then there is no way of identifying and contacting you as the owner.

The chip is activated by a handheld scanner that is passed over the area and the chip then transmit the identification number to the scanner, which displays the number on the screen. The vet or other authorised officer involved in the reunification of your pet can then check this number on Animark to obtain the owners contact details.

No, unlike GPS trackers microchips cannot be detected via satellite or remotely. Currently, the technology does not exist to manufacture an implantable GPS. There are devices available that attach to your pet’s collar but these are limited by battery life (usually up to 10 days) and can be easily removed or lost.

The International Standards Organization, or ISO, has approved and recommended a global standard for microchips. The global standard is intended to create an identification system that is consistent worldwide. For example, if a dog is implanted with an ISO standard microchip in the U.S. and travels to Europe with its owners and becomes lost, the ISO standard scanners in Europe would be able to read the dog's microchip.

All chips manufactured since 1996 should conform to ISO Standards 11784 and 11785.

Microchips cannot be easily removed. In recent times there have been cases of illegal removal of microchips. This causes considerable distress, pain and mutilation of the animal involved. Safe removal of a microchip is a complicated surgical procedure that could only be carried out by a qualified veterinary surgeon with the animal under general anaesthetic.

Most veterinary clinics keep microchips on hand, so it is likely that your pet can be implanted with a microchip the same day as your appointment.

Please ensure that when you are paying for your microchip that the veterinarian is going to register your details with Animark.

Generally a vet will charge around €20 to €40 to microchip your pet if they are not already microchipped.

Under the Microchipping of Dogs Regulations 2015, only a qualified person may implant microchips into dogs in Ireland. To be qualified, one must either have been trained as part of recognised veterinary qualifications and be listed on the Veterinary Council of Ireland, or one must be trained in accordance with Section 11 of the Regulations. Please click here for the list of Animark lay implanters who can implant and register dogs. The Regulations prohibit an implanter from implanting her/his own dogs or the dogs of a “connected person”, such as a spouse, partner, brother, sister, parent, child, or the spouse of a child.

According to the Microchipping of Dogs Regulations 2015 a person shall not have a dog in his or her possession unless they have a valid certificate of registration. For security reasons, it is our preference to e-mail each owner with their certificate of registration for secure keeping.

Yes, it is a legal requirement for all dogs to be microchipped under the Microchipping of Dogs Regulations 2015. These are regulations made under the Animal Health & Welfare Act 2013.

All dogs must be microchipped and registered on an authorised database before they are sold or before they reach 12 weeks of age (8 weeks for dog breeding establishments as per The Dog Breeding Establishments Act, 2010). Breeders, sellers and private individuals are prohibited from selling a pup that is less than eight weeks old.

Failure to comply with the legislation could result in a fine of up to €5,000.

Dog owners are also required to keep their pet’s details up to date with the database under the legislation.

Under the Control of Dogs Acts 1986, an “owner” in relation to a dog includes the occupier of any premises where the dog is kept or permitted to live or remain and shall, until the contrary is proved, be presumed to be the owner.

The occupier of any premises where a dog is found shall be deemed to be the person who keeps the dog unless he proves that:

(a) he is not the owner of the dog, and

(b) the dog was kept on the premises either (i) without his knowledge or (ii) by some other person who had a licence for the dog.

While it is currently not a legal requirement for your cat to be microchipped, all the advantages of microchipping applies to cats, if not more so as cats are more independent and tend to wander more than dogs. The same microchip is used and all your details are recorded on Animark in the exact same way as a dog and you are issued with a certificate of registration for your cat. The microchip will help reunite you with your lost cat in the same way as a lost dog.

Yes, Animark is one of the approved databases under the Microchipping of Dogs Regulations 2015.

Animark is a member of www.europetnet.com/, a group of national and local associations across Europe. If your dog is found, a search on europetnet.com will show which country and database holds the owner’s registered details.

Animark is also a member of www.petmaxx.com. PetMaxx is an international companion animal microchip search tool created to help reunite lost pets and their owners. PetMaxx scans a range of international databases (including North & South America, Europe, Russia and Australia etc.) to indicate whether a microchip is registered or not and on which database.

It is an offence to keep a dog unless you have a licence. Puppies aged under 4 months who are still with their mothers don't need a licence, but once they leave their mothers, they must have a licence.

You can apply for an individual or lifetime dog licence at your local post office. Failure to comply with the legislation could result in a fine of up to €2,500.

Licences are not needed for:

• Guide dogs for blind people
• Dogs in the possession of a local authority
• Dogs in the possession of the ISPCA or Gardaí
• Dogs in the possession of the ISPCA or Gardaí

As well as being microchipped, it is still a legal requirement for dogs to wear a collar and tag with the owner’s name and address on it when in a public place. Failure to comply with the legislation could result in a fine of up to €2,500.

Your dog must be accompanied by a responsible person and under effective control at all times, preferably on a lead in public places. Many local authorities have introduced by-laws that indicate areas where dogs are prohibited or must be kept on a leash.

There are many rules around pet passports. In Ireland, EU pet passports are issued by private vets to the pet owner. If you would like to bring your dog or cat to the EU and/or the UK, then you need to apply for a Pet Passport.

Please refer to the following links for more information.

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/coming_to_live_in_ireland/bringing_pets_to_ireland.html

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/21d40-pet-travel/

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/pets/