Nikki Abela Mercieca
Dog owners must microchip their pet or face a €300 fine
All dog owners are obliged to microchip their dogs to enable them to be returned home if lost. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
Dog owners must microchip their pets within a year or face a hefty €300 fine, Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino announced yesterday.
The new regulation, which comes into force this week after “lengthy” consultations with the Animal Welfare Council, should help give the government a better picture of the pet population since of the 100,000-odd estimated dogs in Malta only 5,000 are registered.
Current practice obliges dog owners to register their pets every year with the police at an annual fee of €2.33. The microchip does away with this and costs €10 for neutered dogs and €20 for unneutered ones, the difference in rates meant to promote neutering.
“This means that with the microchip, registration will be cheaper,” Mr Pullicino pointed out.
The microchip, not larger than a grain of rice, is injected by a vet in the fold of skin between the dog’s shoulder blades and remains active throughout its lifetime. The vet then scans the dog and registers the number on the scan for the pet to be included in the national livestock database.
Owners of pets that already have a microchip will still need to ask their vet to register the dog via e-mail. Once the whole process is completed, owners would receive a certificate of registration by post.
“We have been feeling the need for better and more serious control of dogs,” Mr Pullicino said.
Homelessness was not only cruel to the dogs but also posed a public health problem, he said. The new system should control the “big problem” of strays because there would be more control on the abandoning of dogs and it would become easier to return lost animals.
The Animal Welfare Department would be carrying out random checks on people walking their dogs to enforce microchipping, he said.
The new regulations will also stipulate fresh conditions for breeders, who will have to register their practice.
“This is the first step we’re making. In the future, we hope to expand the practice with cats,” Mr Pullicino said.
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23 Comments
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Mario Mifsud
Mar 14th 2011, 15:19
Only a few words from me this is just another way of collecting yet another tax,does anyone feel like living in medival times?Where is Robin Hood?Has Mr Pullicino,who does not sound like an animal lover at all,put his team out to study that the poor animals are set to pay for this tax,with their lives as not many people can afford to pay up for these microchips.We will definitly see an endless flow of stray dogs when this law is active.I will pay up for my dogs even if don`t eat myself as I believe that a pet is for life but I cannot believe how these people impose their taxes freely with us watching.Are the animal`s rights properly respected?Now let us see how many Euros are put appart for this cause!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Mar 12th 2011, 16:04
A Micallef, is that all you are capable of writing?! Are you in your right senses?! Who exactly needs to be careful? Who exactly is ".VERY FUNNY U TA DAHK"?! The ones who present factual arguments or the ones who throw unsubstantiated accusation or ridiculous and incomprehensible comments???!!!
G. Mangion
Mar 12th 2011, 11:37
Dog owners must microchip their pet or face a €300 fine:
Dear Gorge are the ---
Cats owners to Chip their Cats ?
Horse Owners ?
Piegon Owners ?
Birds Owners ? Not mention Rat Owners !! this is a TAX Hidden behind a fine no ?
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Mar 11th 2011, 10:15
C Cassar, you are conveniently avoiding the argument as otherwise you would have apologised for your presumptuous and untruthful accusation. Contrarily, you deemed it fit to continue with your usual non-factual statements by writing: "All dog owners say the same thing. I've nothing against dogs, simply their irresponsible owners." Be careful, dear, since one day I might decide to take you up on your rude accusations and you will then have to substantial them!
Mr/Ms S Degabriele, you are completely right. It is people like you who can understand my concern regarding the health of my dogs. My dogs, similar to your dogs, live a very comfortable life with us in our home. They are of no nuisance to others. Yet people like C Cassar feel that they may tarnish us with the wrong-doings of other irresponsible people.
A. Micallef
Mar 12th 2011, 06:53
Ms. Sylvana...etc. etc. Be careful my dear..........................VERY FUNNY U TA DAHK !
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Mar 10th 2011, 19:19
C Cassar, how dare you accuse me that my dogs "are very detrimental to other people's health, particularly children when" my "dog fouls public places". Do you realise how presumptuous, untruthful and ridiculous your accusation is??!! Sir/Madam, my dogs only dirty MY garden / MY private property and it is ME who cleans up after them. Finally, since you usually defend animals (particularly birds), how come you did not sympathise with my concern regarding the health of my dogs??!!
C Cassar
Mar 10th 2011, 19:54
Yes, sure. All dog owners say the same thing. I've nothing against dogs, simply their irresponsible owners. The chipping system will benefit all responsible dog owners, so you have nothing to worry about.
The only people who are against this initiative arethose with something to hide.
Role on the start date for this fabulous scheme.
S. Degabriele
Mar 11th 2011, 08:22
Ms. Darmanin, you are absolutely true and I agree with you. I have a dog and I never walk him outside to dirt other people's places. This measure is not fair at all. It is just another excuse to pick money from our pockets.
What difference would a microchip make in the case of pooing on pavements? I do not see any connection. If the dog is microchipped or not it will not make any difference if the owner leaves him poo wherever he wants. I do all my utmost possible to keep my dog safe and in absolutely good health. He lives with us, eats like us and in winter we even have clothes for him. He just stays in and goes out only on our roof or backyard to do his needs.
This measure is unacceptable and unfair. With it many careless people will just throw away their dog because for some people 20 euros are too much to spend on a dog. Instead of solving the problem this minister will be adding to it. This minister should have thought of helping sanctuaries more so that they can welcome more stray dogs instead of penalising dog owners.
Joseph Stafrace
Mar 10th 2011, 15:15
I have a Labrador dog which I acquired from the Animal welfare department. These dogs are microchipped and neutered prior to handing over to new owners. Should we be made to fork out 10Euros to "register it" when in actual fact it is already on their books!
l fenech
Mar 10th 2011, 12:42
Prosit George, il-gvern tieghek ta' Gonzi li haddtu paga doppja dejjem lesti biex iddahlu idkom fil-but il-poplu biex dejjem tivvintaw kif ser tkomplu tnaqqsulu mil-paga, ghalhekk servit il 1Euro 16cents li tghajtuna. Isthu jekk tghafu.
Barbara Cassar Torreggiani
Mar 10th 2011, 12:32
In answer to Sylvana Zarb Darmanin.
Whilst understanding your concern for your dogs, I would like to point out that in UK, from 4 to 5 million chips implanted in pets, there have been 4 with adverse effects.
It is more than likely that the tumours happen to be in the microchip site rather than the chip being the cause. So, taking this into account maybe you will think again and be happy that your dogs will be more secure and likely to be returned to you in case of loss or abduction.
At the SPCA we do not re-home our dogs and cats without vaccines, microchips and neutering and we are very happy that this long over-due regulation has come into force. As you might know, keeping up with the number of abandoned animals is our daily, heartbreaking problem.
H Dempster
Mar 10th 2011, 11:34
@Charles Sammut . Good one/////
Charles Sammut
Mar 10th 2011, 11:07
“We have been feeling the need for better and more serious control of dogs,” Mr Pullicino said.
And we are feeling the need for better and more serious control of politicians and bureaucrats.
Charles Sammut
Mar 10th 2011, 11:04
“This means that with the microchip, registration will be cheaper,” Mr Pullicino pointed out.
Is that so Mr Pullicino? I have had a dog for 9 years and paid the €2.33 registration every year. Now I will be further penalised by another €20. It pays to ignore the law in Malta because those who never paid registration will get away scott free. If you want the system to be fair, those who abided by the law should get some sort of discount.
Furthermore, I have saved countless kittens abandoned in the country by their irresponsible owners. If cats have to get chipped as well, I will think twice before picking up a litter of 5 or 6 abandoned kittens.
It all boils down to just another tax. Get off our backs. Soon we shall have coin operated chastity belts!
C Cassar
Mar 10th 2011, 12:17
Why don't you bother to read the article properly?
“This means that with the microchip, registration will be cheaper,” Mr Pullicino pointed out."
So, you will be paying less for a better service.
Charles Sammut
Mar 10th 2011, 19:47
@ C Cassar
It is you who did not read my comment properly. Or you are not good at maths.
How can I get off cheaper when I have already paid €21 (9years x 2.33) in dog licence fees? By paying another €20 to have her chipped?
It is control freaks lwho should be microchipped and kept on a DNA database.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Mar 10th 2011, 10:47
I am the owner of two dogs who are duly registered with the authorities and annual fee paid. Having read that microchipping could prove to be detrimental to the dog's health, I cannot see why I should be forced to microchip them.
C Cassar
Mar 10th 2011, 12:15
unfortunately your dogs are very detrimental to other people's health, particularly children when your dog fouls public places. That didn't come from any study but is fact and kids have been blinded and seriously injured by coming into contact with dog excrement.
The micro-chipping is a brilliant idea.
Anthony Formosa
Mar 10th 2011, 13:49
Mr/Mrs C.Cassar , Mrs Zarb Darmanin concern is her pets health, what do you know about her pets excrement? I don't see any connection between micro-chipping and dog excrement, and I don't believe that micro-chipping will change anything to those irresponsible. My feeling is that we will see more stray dogs in the streets when this system is forced and many dogs will be put down. I find this new regulation discriminatory to real pet lovers who cares about their pets. Pet lovers spends much more for their pet than this microchip costs.
The picture says it all, why these dogs are still roaming our streets?
P Borg
Mar 10th 2011, 14:18
@ C Cassar
Are you suggesting that by this system one would trace the depositor of the stool?...
C Cassar
Mar 10th 2011, 14:35
If you read my reply to yesterday's story - http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110309/local/dog-micro-chipping-to-become-compulsory , I suggested that when a micro-chip is installed, a saliva swab sample can be taken and the DNA recorder - a very simple process and not expensive to do. It takes abot 5-10 mins to do. After that it's a simple process to wab a ny fouling found in a public place and get a direct match with details of owner, dog type, address (from the chip info and cross matched with the DNA sample taken during chipping). The samples from public places can be taken hours, days, weeks or months later. DNA hangs around for a long time.
All this can be done for very minimal cost and the problem of dog fouling disappears virtually overnight. Any dog without a chip is confiscated offered for adoption or put down if there are no takers.
Job done - all at little cost and little extra resource.
james Marr
Mar 10th 2011, 10:09
I believe this is a great idea as to avoid animal cruelty..maybe now , certain sick people will think twice about getting a dog for the wrong reasons. However i don't agree that these "Dog wardens" are a good idea as i had been out previously walking my dogs and a couple of "Dog wardens" had stoppped me to see how many bags i had. I have two dogs and take 6 bags with me, but by the time (an hour and a half later) they stopped me (in undercover clothes) i had 3 left and they were going to fine me!!! now what do i need to do?? start taking a box of bags with me or clean up the mess with something else so i have the right amount of bags on me to avoid getting a fine?? But please Mr. Pullicino, if your enforcing it on dog owners then surely enforce it on Cat owners too... only fair dont you think? especially when there is more of a problem with stray cats in Malta.
H Dempster
Mar 10th 2011, 09:44
Next step the government will be chipping us humans, in which case we will do away with id cards.